Changing/adding substrate

[Geoff kuiken]

Any tips on adding new active substrate to a tank?  (Too shallow and I used too much sand not enough active substrate in the beginning). 

[Fish Folk]

If you can explain this more, we can probably help you out more here on the Forum. As a general rule, fine / small substrate will sink down below any larger-sized substrate. So, if you are adding something like Eco-Complete or Active Flora, you can simply pour this on top of your sand. Now, to some degree, if the colors differ, you may not be satisfied with some blending of colors that occurs. By way of example, I poured several bags of fine Black Diamond Blasting Sand down before "capping" this substrate with Eco Complete. The BDBS stays on the bottom / Eco Complete stays on top. Since both are black, the resulting coloration effect is reasonably consistent.

Edited January 23, 2022 by Fish Folk

[Patrick_G]

I think I’d consider holding off as long as possible. From what I understand aquasoil has a very high CEC value, that means it holds onto nutrients in the water even after it has exhausted the nutrients that were added during manufacture. So I’d first make sure you have a good robust water column dosing before going through the trouble of removing the sand and adding more aquasoil. I have a tank with sand over aquasoil and I’m hoping I can postpone renewing the soil for a long time.