Meet Fang! Substrate check - is this right???

[SilverWolf]

Hi, so this is Fang! He is a Half Moon, that's about all I know about him and proper terminology!

I just want to check if I did the substrate right??

[Syriiven]

Are you planning this tank to have plants?

And I'm not sure if I'm looking at soil with sand on top or gravel with sand on top.

Really depends on what you plan for the tank.

[Bombalurina]

Unless you are planning something specific, like an NPT or other type of planted tank, there is no right way to do substrate. :)

[SilverWolf]

It's going to be a NPT. There is soil on the bottom, sand on top! I'm adding the start of the live plants today!

[tekkguy]

Your fish was in the first picture. Is he in the second?

When you add soil to a tank, you will have a HUGE spike in ammonia for a while - this will not be safe for the fish! Normally, you want a tank with organic soil to be up and running for a couple of weeks before you add a fish.

[SilverWolf]

Nope, he's not in the second picture.. He's in now, with what plants I have.. I'm doing 2ice daily water changes to combat the ammonia until it settles in a bit. :)

[Tabbie82]

Your tank is going to look great! I love that background. Can't wait to see it all planted.

[tekkguy]

Originally Posted by SilverWolf

Nope, he's not in the second picture.. He's in now, with what plants I have.. I'm doing 2ice daily water changes to combat the ammonia until it settles in a bit. :)

As long as you're aware and watchful!

[VJM]

Originally Posted by tekkguy

Your fish was in the first picture. Is he in the second?

When you add soil to a tank, you will have a HUGE spike in ammonia for a while - this will not be safe for the fish! Normally, you want a tank with organic soil to be up and running for a couple of weeks before you add a fish.

I never had this. Any ideas why? I have a TON of plants. Probably 80% planted.

[tekkguy]

Originally Posted by VJM

I never had this. Any ideas why? I have a TON of plants. Probably 80% planted.

Maybe your plants? What type of soil did you use? If it's just topsoil, then it's no surprise ... if it's an organic soil, the decomp of the organics should have caused a big spike, but if you were planted heavily from the beginning you might never have seen it.