Remove Old Lapis Sand Layer or Add New "Black Soil" Over It

[cosmicclaw]

Hi,

I currently have a 4 ft not very well maintained :rolleyes: planted tank with some assorted shrimps and tetras and want to tear this down and convert to a 100% Shrimp Tank.

This tank has a 5 inch thick layer of lapis sand and some plant fertilizer below (But as tank is more than 3 years old, I believe all the ferts have been used up).

I'm torn between :

1. removing the old lapis sand completely and add in new GEX soil
2. keeping the old lapis and pour GEX over it as the latter will be a much cheaper solution.

The question I have is ...will keeping the old lapis sand be a problem in future or will it be ok since my other cherries, malayan and yamatos are doing ok? I hope to introduce CRS in time to come when its a 100% shrimp tank.

And the only plants I have in mind are mosses so don't need ferts any more.

All advice and comments are most welcome. Thanks

[moaid]

MAYBE...it will be nicer with just the GEX soil... more like a visual preference if u ask me... :cheesy:

man..4ft tank...ur new shrimps will jump out and kiss u!! good luck!!..post pics of the new "home"..

[cheetf]

If you should decide to remove all the lapis, make sure you cycle your tank even though the filter is mature. Your filter might not be able to handle the change.

If you decide to keep the lapis you would have to be very careful should you decide to plant anything in the future. As from my previous experiences, once the ferts come to the surface my yamatos die. One suspect is also an ammonia spike when the substrate is dug up.

Also in the future should you decide to do any scaping you will have to put up with the GEX/Lapis mix which can be pretty ugly.

For your consideration.