Fluval Stratum Breeding Tank (20L)

[imke_j]

Today was the day to give my Tetra Aqua Art 20 a face-lift! My new set up is an air driven undergravel filter with ceramic rings layer and 4kg Fluval Stratum Shrimp soil.


UGF:
http://www.shrimpnow.com/mygallery/files/4/7/2/8/fluval_stratum_11.jpg

http://www.shrimpnow.com/mygallery/files/4/7/2/8/fluval_stratum_12.jpg

adding ceramic rings as first layer (thanks Alan!):
http://www.shrimpnow.com/mygallery/files/4/7/2/8/fluval_stratum_13.jpg

http://www.shrimpnow.com/mygallery/files/4/7/2/8/fluval_stratum_14.jpg

Fluval Stratum is added with Mosura Bacter-9:
http://www.shrimpnow.com/mygallery/files/4/7/2/8/fluval_stratum_16.jpg

carefully wash the substrate, as the producer recommends:
http://www.shrimpnow.com/mygallery/files/4/7/2/8/fluval_stratum_20.jpg

fill the tank:
http://www.shrimpnow.com/mygallery/files/4/7/2/8/fluval_stratum_18.jpg

use the soil bag to control water current for the first fill:
http://www.shrimpnow.com/mygallery/files/4/7/2/8/fluval_stratum_21.jpg

filter cloudy water:
http://www.shrimpnow.com/mygallery/files/4/7/2/8/fluval_stratum_22.jpg

I was astonished that the manufacturer did not recommend for how long you have to cycle the tank before putting shrimp into it. A better description for newbies would be good!

This tank shall either house my Naoki Red Bee or give home to a new crossbreeding idea - I am not fully decided yet.

[mordalphus]

My bag of stratum says not to rinse substrate. Is the German bag different? And there is no ammonia leeching like with aquasoil, so no need to wait a month. However is wait at least 48 hours for water to stabilize parameters.

[imke_j]

My bag of stratum says not to rinse substrate. Is the German bag different?
Well, the text on the bag says (in English original):

'Gently rinse Fluval Stratum in a large colander or similar device without agitating the substrate to remove fine dust particles.'

And YES: it was dirty!lol

[mordalphus]

Oh! Maybe I misread, mine was not dirty though, I had no cloudiness, however I was using the larger particle version, and not the small grain

[mhlwang]

hi, I was wondering what is the purpose of using the ceramic rings as a first layer? Thanks!

[imke_j]

hi, I was wondering what is the purpose of using the ceramic rings as a first layer? Thanks!

The rings will be ground for more benifical bactria and prevent the UGF from clogging, if the soil grain decomposes.

[adrianng1996]

i wont wash it though....IME soil will break down easily and the nutrients in the soil will decrease when you wash soil....and makes your water freaking DIRTY!

[eviltrain]

for me i will not wash any baked soil. its will just gets more and more "dirty". i believe there is some translation problem.

if i'm not wrong, they should means something like pour the soil in the tank, fill up the tank with water, 100% change to remove any excess dirt ( wood, floating soil ) and fill back the tank again.

btw imke, im Alan here :D

[imke_j]

Well, I wanted to test this soil totally as Hagen recommends - and don't rely on my own experiences. To be true, I have never washed any active soil before and wondered about the manual, too. Let's see how the water parameter are after 24 hours.

[imke_j]

Water Parameter Flaval Stratum, Day 1:
pH: 6.2-6.4
GH: 7
KH: 0-1


Tap Water (first fill) is:
pH 7.5
GH 15
KH 12

[Mark]

thats impressive !!!

[gourmettea]

Very nice Imke. Please make note and let us know your Ph monthly. I would like to know how long the Fluval Stratum will buffer the water. I've heard different things but would like some real life experience. Your water would make a good test because you start with a Ph over 7.

[mickdeja]

Very nice Imke. Please make note and let us know your Ph monthly. I would like to know how long the Fluval Stratum will buffer the water. I've heard different things but would like some real life experience. Your water would make a good test because you start with a Ph over 7.

+1 on the monthly buffer readings.

[eviltrain]

Seems like the soil is sucking up all the gH and kH. Should be able to drop till nice parameter for crs.

[imke_j]

Seems like the soil is sucking up all the gH and kH. Should be able to drop till nice parameter for crs.

Yeah, you are right, Alan!

Day 7:
ph = 6.0 :)

[imke_j]

Day 11:
Nitrite peak with 0.4 NO2! Did a large water change.

[eviltrain]

Day 11:
Nitrite peak with 0.4 NO2! Did a large water change.

seems like your bb is very hardworking. Haha. Throw some hornwart and frogbit, floating plants to soak up the nitrates too.

[imke_j]

Day 14:
Did 3 L water changes everyday; the tank has still 0.1 NO2. Also ordered some water plants as eviltrain suggested, to fight NO3 and PO4 on the longtime run. Will measure pH tomorrow.

[imke_j]

Day 18:
I did several water changes (amount 3L) with my tap water to fight the NO2 peak. Well, the Straum now already seems exhausted, measured today:
pH 7.0-7.2

[eviltrain]

Day 18:
I did several water changes (amount 3L) with my tap water to fight the NO2 peak. Well, the Straum now already seems exhausted, measured today:
pH 7.0-7.2


thats weird. What is the kH reading?

[imke_j]

thats weird. What is the kH reading?

Yes, really strange!
Drop test says KH 1-2, GH 6. Is it my sponge filter? Although aeration is very low!

[imke_j]

Another Update with water parameter:

pH: 7.0-7.2
NO2: 0.025 (now dropped and peak is over)
NO3: 5-10

Let's face it: If you are a frequent water changer and use (hard) tap water, no active soil will buffer your pH for a long time. I would have better results with adapted water (= osmosis with later adding special RO salt).

As to me, the look and the structure of the soil grain is more important, I still feel it is okay to use active soil, even when it is quickly exhausted.

BTW: Finally, me fast growing plants have arrived, and I added some bigger Pistia stratiotes

[qpixo]

How is going with your PH and GH lately

I was hesitated to buy Fluval Shrimp Stratum cause I asked the seller how long it could keep the PH down and he said 2 or 3 months then melt down...

[MananaP]

How is going with your PH and GH lately

I was hesitated to buy Fluval Shrimp Stratum cause I asked the seller how long it could keep the PH down and he said 2 or 3 months then melt down...

LOL ARE YOU KIDDING ME, the seller said this? well good luck with the FSS soil...

[qpixo]

LOL ARE YOU KIDDING ME, the seller said this? well good luck with the FSS soil...

Yeah he said that when I asked him. lol!

Did you ever used it? As for your own experience How long Fluval Shrimp Stratum can keep PH down?

[MananaP]

Yeah he said that when I asked him. lol!

Did you ever used it? As for your own experience How long Fluval Shrimp Stratum can keep PH down?

Now that you have asked, here is a thread you might want to read...

http://www.shrimpnow.com/forums/showthread.php/8170-Fluval-Shrimp-Stratum(review-after-almost-1-year-of-use)?highlight=

[imke_j]

My tank has been reset with Ibaraki Akadama now - nore more Fluval Stratum.

[MananaP]

My tank has been reset with Ibaraki Akadama now - nore more Fluval Stratum.

Is this a new line that akadama made imke? How are you finding these soil? how many line did akadama make anyways? I have a soil that claims to be akadama but i'm hesitant to use it as i don't understand the writing on it lols...

[qpixo]

My tank has been reset with Ibaraki Akadama now - nore more Fluval Stratum.

Why did you stop using it? :)

[qpixo]

Now that you have asked, here is a thread you might want to read...

http://www.shrimpnow.com/forums/showthread.php/8170-Fluval-Shrimp-Stratum(review-after-almost-1-year-of-use)?highlight=

Thanks for sharing your experience, it's really helpful. I can see you have put lots of effort, time and money in Fluval Stratum and you have lost a lot of babies and shrimps that cost $$. I think I made a good decision NOT Buying Fluval Stratum after the seller told me that he though. So I aware of Fluval now. What a nice seller thinking about customer first before thinking make money! LoL!

I think I have to wait for the distributor of ADA soil amazonia over here. Btw, I have heard of NetLea Crystal Shrimp Soil do you have any experiences of this soil too?

Where can I get Akadama soil in Canada?

[imke_j]

I guess we now run very offtopic here, so I suggest to start new threads for the Ibaraki and NetLea soils.

[imke_j]

Why did you stop using it? :)
It is all in the thread MananaP posted for you. My shrimp were not well on this soil.

[imke_j]

Is this a new line that akadama made imke? How are you finding these soil? how many line did akadama make anyways? I have a soil that claims to be akadama but i'm hesitant to use it as i don't understand the writing on it lols...

Hi Stephen, please follow this thread:
http://www.shrimpnow.com/forums/showthread.php/7959-Started-a-New-Shrimp-Home-with-Ibaraki-Akadama?p=70327#post70327

[Danimals]

Today was the day to give my Tetra Aqua Art 20 a face-lift! My new set up is an air driven undergravel filter with ceramic rings layer and 4kg Fluval Stratum Shrimp soil.


UGF:
http://www.shrimpnow.com/mygallery/files/4/7/2/8/fluval_stratum_11.jpg

http://www.shrimpnow.com/mygallery/files/4/7/2/8/fluval_stratum_12.jpg

adding ceramic rings as first layer (thanks Alan!):
http://www.shrimpnow.com/mygallery/files/4/7/2/8/fluval_stratum_13.jpg

http://www.shrimpnow.com/mygallery/files/4/7/2/8/fluval_stratum_14.jpg

Fluval Stratum is added with Mosura Bacter-9:
http://www.shrimpnow.com/mygallery/files/4/7/2/8/fluval_stratum_16.jpg

carefully wash the substrate, as the producer recommends:
http://www.shrimpnow.com/mygallery/files/4/7/2/8/fluval_stratum_20.jpg

fill the tank:
http://www.shrimpnow.com/mygallery/files/4/7/2/8/fluval_stratum_18.jpg

use the soil bag to control water current for the first fill:
http://www.shrimpnow.com/mygallery/files/4/7/2/8/fluval_stratum_21.jpg

filter cloudy water:
http://www.shrimpnow.com/mygallery/files/4/7/2/8/fluval_stratum_22.jpg

I was astonished that the manufacturer did not recommend for how long you have to cycle the tank before putting shrimp into it. A better description for newbies would be good!

This tank shall either house my Naoki Red Bee or give home to a new crossbreeding idea - I am not fully decided yet.


You may want to hold off on rinsing the substrate next time, I've found out first hand that it actually doesn't do anything and may actually contribute to water cloudiness.

Pic is my Ebi a couple minutes after filling it with water, no substrate rinsing, it's all in how carefully you fill the tank.

4976

4977

[imke_j]

Thanks for the hint, I won't use the Stratum a second time.

[FishFan85]

I also use this stratum and on the bag it says "rinse carefully' this probably because it's very easy to crush.
I rinsed it with a colander a few times, and then let it settle, it takes a while but it wil clear up.
My water is crystal clear, the color comes from the dust, your filter will get it out.

Goodluck and take care.

Joey

[firstblue]

Hi all,

I have had a different experience with this soil I have used it in 6 tanks now, holding many different types of shirmp including cherries, green, crs, cbs, yellow, and snowball. All are breeding well in the tanks. I have used the soil for well over 6 months now in each tank. I maintain a PH of around 6.5 - 6.9 consistently. However, I do not use Tap water, but pure RO water. I then buffer with Mosura Minteral Plus, Mosura TDS Up, and Old Sea Mud to replace minerals. This setup seems to be working great for me.

I didn't wash any of the substrate, but instead poured it dry directly into the tank, and let a slow trickle of RO water come in to fill up the tank. No cloudyness at all. However, the substrate can be very cloudy is messed with at all, so I am careful not to cloud it up.

The filters I use is internal and has a powerhead connected to a media chamber filled with ceramic rings, with a large sponge at the end.

I think the substrate is working very well, and is easy and cheap for me to access here in the states. I am however intersted in trying some ADA substrates.