Conditioning ADA AquaSoil for an Established Tank

[underwurlde]

More fool me!

I purchased some ADA AquaSoil with the mind to whipping out the existing gravel substrate in my established tank (with fish & shrimp) & bunging my sparkly, gleaming new ADA AquaSoil substrate in.

One thread later on TFF, I find that this is NOT a good idea for the established tank because of ensuing 3 week ammonia spike! (A fact NOT mentioned when buying the stuff).

So, the question is: Is there a way of conditioning ADA AquaSoil so that it can go into an establsihed tank? My simplistic thinking leads me to just soaking it in a bucket of water for a month, performing (let's guess at 90%) weekly water changes, testing for levels of ammonia as I go. Once satisifed, bung it in!

But (and there's always a but in this hobby!), what if anything, am I effectively loosing by doing this and is it a worthy idea? BTW, I do not possess a quarantine tank.

Fianlly, if I really can't condition this stuff or otherwise use it, can anyone recommend a substrate that CAN be used in an establsihed tank?

Regards & TIA,

Andy.

 

[Tom Barr]

When you add it to a new tank, make sure you do 2x a week water changes, large ones, add zeolite and/or Activated carbon.

End of story and issue.
the added work pays off and the plants grow very well with 2-3x a week water changes with dosing thereafter, EI is based on that and just reduces the water change frequency to weekly.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[underwurlde]

Not a new tank, an already established tank - but I guess that's what you meant.

So in that respect, you're saying it is OK to add AquaSoil to an established tank just so long as you remove the Ammonia via large every other day water changes for 3 weeks or so until the levels have dropped

Fair enough.

Alternatively, would my other idea work re: conditioning in a bucket of water first & what are the implications of doing this?

Thanks again Tom,

Andy

 

[Tom Barr]

The bucket will be murky and muddy when you add it back.
Don't do that.

Add zeolite and/or water changes.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Naja002]

Overdose Seachem's Stability. I use it for feeder fish fluctuations and it works. Plus it cannot be overdosed(-Its just bacteria):

"Over-Dosing" Stability.....?

Yes, it works.......

 

[Tom Barr]

I've dumped ADA AS directly into tanks that I removed the gravel from without removing the fish with nio ill effects on shrimp or fish.

Regards,
Tom Barr