Newbie confused about the substrate debate

[oryzias]

Is the hydroponic media (appears to be some sort of ceramic balls) suitable as a substrate?

[FishFan85]

Great stuff by the way Joey, this helps ease some of my concerns about going through the overhaul process of extracting the "exhausted substrate" of whatever brand that I may choose.
I suppose after reading everything the process would go like this:

Catch all livestock and remove live plants;
Keep them in bucket/etc. with some siphoned tank water
Siphon out remaining tank water
Proceed to remove/shovel out exhausted or dissolved substrate
Insert new substrate
Fill tank back with previously removed water plus 20-25-30%? new water
Let heater re-stabilize tank temp.
Proceed to add plants and livestock back in their old (but sort of new) home.

Did I miss anything?

Thanks,

Almost complete,
Don't forget to keep the filter running in your tank water that you will use again.
Your filter shouldn't be offline very long for the bacteria to survive.

Also a good time to trim your plants and keep them in order.

I think you're good with the rest.

Goodluck!

Joey

[FishFan85]

Is the hydroponic media (appears to be some sort of ceramic balls) suitable as a substrate?

I think you mean hydropellets those orange looking balls people use for plants to place them in hydroculture.
I certainly wouldn't use that for 3 reasons.
- They are to big and muck easily gets in between. It's not easy to clean, and the tiny plants we use in aquaria don't settle that easy in it.
- They contain tiny airholes, most of that floats, i use it as humidifying gravel underneath my orchids.
- Sometimes they add nutrients and plant fertilizer in that stuff, which can be dangerous in your tank.

Wouldn't go there.
If you want larger substrate, you can also go for the larger river stones people use in ciclid tanks, that also looks great.
I would put a base of gravel underneath though it looks nicer I think.
For example a medium dark gravel with some nice light colored rocks on it looks awesome.
Google AMANO tanks and you'll see what I mean


Take care now,

Joey

[nilocg]

Is the hydroponic media (appears to be some sort of ceramic balls) suitable as a substrate?

If you are talking about hydroton, it wouldnt work very well. It is quite large and seems to float even when submerged for a long time. I use it as a biomedia in my fx5 and works well for that, but I wouldnt use it as a substrate.

[Murad]

I suppose after reading everything the process would go like this:

Catch all livestock and remove live plants;


Did I miss anything?

Just a question on the same topic AG36 sorry for the steal of thread... Just wondering "the eggs" will it affect it or damage it during the overhaul process? change of temperature and such?

[GDP]

Just a question on the same topic AG36 sorry for the steal of thread... Just wondering "the eggs" will it affect it or damage it during the overhaul process? change of temperature and such?

If the variations are too great then its possible. The thing to worry about isnt so much the eggs themselves but rather the mother getting stressed and dropping the eggs. But I wouldnt worry too much.

[Nubster]

Great stuff by the way Joey, this helps ease some of my concerns about going through the overhaul process of extracting the "exhausted substrate" of whatever brand that I may choose.
I suppose after reading everything the process would go like this:

Catch all livestock and remove live plants;
Keep them in bucket/etc. with some siphoned tank water
Siphon out remaining tank water
Proceed to remove/shovel out exhausted or dissolved substrate
Insert new substrate
Fill tank back with previously removed water plus 20-25-30%? new water
Let heater re-stabilize tank temp.
Proceed to add plants and livestock back in their old (but sort of new) home.

Did I miss anything?

If you are using something like ADA, doesn't that go through a cycle which would mean you'd need to house the shrimp elsewhere for a period of time?

[GeToChKn]

If you are using something like ADA, doesn't that go through a cycle which would mean you'd need to house the shrimp elsewhere for a period of time?

ADA Amazonia will leech ammonia for anywhere from a few weeks to a month or even two. I use Netlea soil, and its similar and does the same thing. It can get as high as 4ppm sometimes. You're best off to get the substrate, put it in a tote or something, run it with a sponge filter for a month or so until their no ammonia, then use it for your tank once its done leeching. The ADA Mayasian of Africana don't leech nearly as much.

[Nubster]

ADA Amazonia will leech ammonia for anywhere from a few weeks to a month or even two. I use Netlea soil, and its similar and does the same thing. It can get as high as 4ppm sometimes. You're best off to get the substrate, put it in a tote or something, run it with a sponge filter for a month or so until their no ammonia, then use it for your tank once its done leeching. The ADA Mayasian of Africana don't leech nearly as much.

Duh...I probably wouldn't have thought about that...

I'm planning on getting Akadama anyways so I won't have to worry about it, but if I ever decide to try the ADA stuff that's a good tip to know.

[Hwynette]

To be honest you mention two things that I want to address.
1) I also read that the active substrates may only last a year. I chose to use ADA Amazonia and was worried about it going inactive within a year to 1.5 years. I still have my first tank set up that was nearly 3 years ago and probably needs to be redone at this point but it is still buffering. A LOT has to do with what the paramaters of the water you are using to fill and change with. Since I use RO/DI water and add some minerals the substrate does not "have to work so hard" to adjust/buffer the tank as it would if you were using some very alakaline water with high minerals say out of your tap or well. Then the substrate would not last near as long.

2) I cannot speak about Akadama yet as I have only had one tank set up since Oct 21, 2011 (Taiwan bees and mischlings growing and doing well since...see My new Thai bee Akadama tank) but I can speak about ADA Amazonia. I decided to use this substarte after failing with CRS an initial first try with an inert fine black gravel. I have used this substrate since and have it in 6 of my 12 tanks and absolutely love it! Just like anyone, I had to get it "dialed in" first, but once I did it has prooven to be fool proof as long as you do not get lazy on water changes etc.

What minerals do you add to your water? My tests last night show my GH is 7 (going up as it was 5 a couple of weeks ago) and my KH is 2-3. I use tap water with Prime and I'm thinking I should change to RO water? My PH is 7.6 which is probably a little high but I have a snail in there too and they need a higher PH for their shells. That's why I'm moving the shrimp soon to their own tank. Thanks