When to add Fish to Dirted Tank

Hello all. I am a new member here and am fasinated with this "Dirt" concept in a planted tank.... I've never heard of that before a few days ago. I have 3 tanks of my own... a 46g Cichlid tank, a 55g Rainbow Fish tank with some java fern in it, and a 20g long overly planted tank with who knows what type of plants in it and some community fish....I have been a fish keeper for over 20 years and am in the process of upgrading my 55g to a 75g planted Rainbow fish tank..... Now here is my Question... In my 55g I have a lot of Beautiful Rainbow fish that I want to keep.... when I do the 55g to 75g switch, I plan on taking all fish out and putting them in a bucket with a filter running on it.... I am thinking about doing the Dirt thing with the 75g.. once I add the dirt, gravel, and plants and have gotten it filled back up with water, (I am planning on using the same filters from the 55g so they will be well "seasoned" 2 Penguine 330's)... how soon can I put my Rainbows back into the tank......? I cannot just leave them in the bucket forever.... I've been reading about how the dirt releases amonia and other such stuff for a few days and it is not good for the fish..... What do I do? Can I soak the Dirt in a big tub with water in it for a week or two and do daily water changes in that...... will that lessen the process when I actually put it in the Aquarium? Thanks for any advice.... Be well... Ken

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Peter on October 29, 2012 at 3:10am

how soon can u add your fish? hmmm.... well if u do what u answered yourself, soaking the dirt and such and such it will totally lessen the process. you can look up "mineralizing" the soil. if u do that and then cap the dirt, which would be mud after a week or 2 of soaking, with your used gravel from the 55g and use the same water, and plant heavily and i mean HEAVILY, you can add the fish day 2 of you setting it up. but thats what i would do, i suggest you get another opinion on this topic... GL

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by viper15a on May 6, 2013 at 8:30pm

As my videos show, I don't wait well. I soaked my "dirt" in a bucket for a couple days. This serves two purposes, first soil is waterlogged and doesn't float as badly and secondly it flushes the tiny particles that cloud the water. Be warned that no matter what approach you use you're still going to have to do BIG water changes at first to get the water to clear up. I opted to set the big tank up while the smaller ones were still running and after a couple days I moved the fish over. I like your idea of using a "seasoned" filter. That will help big time when cycling the new tank. Good Luck!