Dried tropica soil

[Mattant1984]

Hi guys,
I recently picked up a new tank which is brand new and the furthest the previous owner got to setting it up was adding the Tropica soil.

The soil has since completely dried up but I wanted to know if it could still be used??
I've added a picture below of how it looks.

Many thanks

 

[FrozenShivers]

As far as I’m aware this is completely fine to use.

 

[Mattant1984]

As far as I’m aware this is completely fine to use.

Thanks, do toy know if it will need soaking for a bit before adding??

 

[FrozenShivers]

Thanks, do toy know if it will need soaking for a bit before adding??

I wouldn’t think so, happy for someone to correct me if wrong though.

 

[G H Nelson]

@Mattant1984
You do not need to soak the soil, do water changes for the first few weeks!!
Try not to disturb the soil as it can cloud the water column.

On another note.
Depending on how long the soil was used, it could be low in nutrients, adding root tablets/balls/sticks would be beneficial.

 

[Mattant1984]

@Mattant1984
You do not need to soak the soil, do water changes for the first few weeks!!
Try not to disturb the soil as it can cloud the water column.

On another note.
Depending on how long the soil was used, it could be low in nutrients, adding root tablets/balls/sticks would be beneficial.

Many thanks, the soil has never been used just left to dry out but thanks for clarifying for me.

Also can the Tropica soil be capped with sand?? (More for an aesthetic point of view)

 

[G H Nelson]

Also can the Tropica soil be capped with sand?? (More for an aesthetic point of view)

I wouldn't cap it with sand......as it will mix eventually.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

I wouldn't cap it with sand......as it will mix eventually.

Via <"granular convection">. <"Tropica aqua soil">

cheers Darrel

 

[richardcunliffe]

As said, capping all over will just be a pain/not work well, but if you want a path kind of look, or a small area of sand which needs to be on top for some reason, I've seen some people soak an area in super glue to make a solid, maintainable bit that can't easily mix ...

 

[Mattant1984]

Hi all,

Via <"granular convection">. <"Tropica aqua soil">

cheers Darrel

Many thanks Darrel,

I'll stick to just the aquasoil I think 👍🏼👍🏼

 

[Mattant1984]

As said, capping all over will just be a pain/not work well, but if you want a path kind of look, or a small area of sand which needs to be on top for some reason, I've seen some people soak an area in super glue to make a solid, maintainable bit that can't easily mix ...

Ideally I was thinking of capping just to get rid of the black soil colour however reading the above I think I will stick with just the soil and plant a little heavier to disguise the black

 

[richardcunliffe]

plant a little heavier

Always! Yea, in my mind there is never any reason to be able to see the top surface of an aquasoil substrate in the medium to long term, it should be covered in plants, or tweak the layout. In the same way that you generally don't see much bare soil in a garden design