dmurray407 Posted June 29, 2022 Share Posted June 29, 2022 Is it OK to layer substrates? I have about 2 inches of black gravel in my 65 gal aquarium. I would like to add a little more-maybe another inch. I'm wondering if can gradually add some Eco complete (I like the look of it) or some other substrate suitable for planted tanks over the top of the gravel? I don't see a reason to remove the gravel-it's been in the tank for a few years and is full of all kinds of good bacteria but I want to change the look up. I also have to be careful because I have a nice colony of shrimp going in the tank. Most of my current plants are Java Ferns, so I can just keep moving them up a bit at a time as I add new gravel. What do you think? (I'm also being cautious because years ago I removed all the gravel in a different tank and totally crashed everything-not good...) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fish Folk Posted June 29, 2022 Share Posted June 29, 2022 Yep. I do it all the time. Just fine. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted June 29, 2022 Share Posted June 29, 2022 I agree, nothing harmful about layers. Many aquarists do it on purpose. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Burke Posted June 29, 2022 Share Posted June 29, 2022 I did it backward for my 75 gallon. Eco-complete under gravel, about 50 of the gravel was from a 20 gallon I was retiring. Worked well, and the tank cycled super fast. Can’t see any issue with eco-complete on top, though over time it may settle into the gravel. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
da_Fishylover Posted June 29, 2022 Share Posted June 29, 2022 I did it with my 55 gallon except I put the Eco complete under the gravel. It was a bit of a hassle but in the end it worked out just fine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JettsPapa Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 I also don't see why it wouldn't work. My newest tank has a layer of cow manure on bottom, then a layer of potting soil, and then capped with pool filter sand. It's working fine (though I had bubbles coming up from the substrate for a very long time). 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 (edited) On 6/30/2022 at 7:00 AM, JettsPapa said: I also don't see why it wouldn't work. My newest tank has a layer of cow manure on bottom, then a layer of potting soil, and then capped with pool filter sand. It's working fine (though I had bubbles coming up from the substrate for a very long time). I hope it's composted manure! 🙂 Edited June 30, 2022 by Patrick_G 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JettsPapa Posted June 30, 2022 Share Posted June 30, 2022 On 6/30/2022 at 9:03 AM, Patrick_G said: I hope it's composted manure! 🙂 No, but it was dry. I got it from my barn. By the way, those bubbles I mentioned were still coming up long after I added guppies to the tank, but they didn't seem to cause any problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabokovfan87 Posted July 1, 2022 Share Posted July 1, 2022 Just make sure it's not something that leeches ammonia or nitrates heavily. If it is. Soak it in a bucket and keep doing WCs until it tests clean, then add it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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