Changing to Planted Tank

[desertrabbit]

Hello everyone, new to this forum

I am about to re-scape to a planted aquarium. I currently have gravel and i'm switching to Aquarium Soil capped with Sand.

Would there be any benefit of using the old gravel by putting it in mesh bags and having it as a base to build the back up before putting the soil and sand on top. Would the bacteria stay on the gravel and keep the tank cycled or doesn't matter as not changing the filter.

Unsure of the best way to go.

[fr499y]

Some people do that to build it up and to stop deeper slopes from falling. No harm in doing it if you want to make use of the gravel and I’m sure there will be some bacteria living on the surface of the gravel too.

Oh and welcome to

[Martinspuddle]

Greetings & welcome to

[plankton]

Welcome to the forum.

[John Linklater]

I've done similar with two tanks. Eventually the sand and soil will work its way down and expose the mesh bag. not saying not to do it just pointing that out.

[Martinspuddle]

Nearly three years old now. Superfish lava rock chips, with old gravel and JBL sand mix (not cleaned) from old aquarium, Tropica soil powder, then capped with around 35 kg's of Aqua Range 'Aqua-Substrate' - River Sand from Maidenhead Aquatics.


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[Bluetaurus]

Hello and welcome

[desertrabbit]

Thanks for the comment everyone.

Been watching MD youtube for inspiration, ordered everything I will need and will finally give it a go tomorrow.

Will post photo when it completed

[desertrabbit]

Tank is all finished