Reusing Aquasoil

[JayP]

I've done some reading on the subject of reusing aquasoil. There are videos showing fully removing the soil, cleaning it to remove all old detritus, and then even baking it. @Dennis Wong (2hr Aquarist) discusses regular replenishing of depleted aquasoil but I didn't see an article on a complete new scape using old soil. It seems to me that once you have removed all hardscape and livestock from a tank, you could remove a partial amount of soil, stir up what is remaining quite well while also doing a deep vacuum to remove as much detritus as possible, and then add in fresh soil to desired substrate level. In theory this would leave a substantial amount of beneficial bacteria in the tank, and if you're also reusing biomedia, the tank would cycle in very short time.

I was about to start the next couple new tanks with new soil but have paused to consider these options. I currently have 3 scapes that I'll be breaking down, but I can break down one tank at a time now, clean the soil in the tank as I described and, move the soil to the new tank (along with the additional new soil). The catch is that I would still have to do the scaping either underwater, or holding off filling with water for the extended time while I place hardscape, so I don't know how well live bacteria in the old soil would handle that.

Curious to hear other's thoughts, especially if you've actually done this.

 

[CincyScaper]

I have seen MJ aquascaping doing this often. I have not personally done so but does seem like a good option. I would probably still do the dark start/water changes.

One factor that I would be interested in knowing is the benefit of having fresh aquasoil in the root zone rather than the surface. If I were to do it I might place more fresh aquasoil in the area where the rooting would occur. It probably does not make a huge difference.

Would also be interested to know how long aquasoil actually last before breaking down.

 

[snowballs99]

If you don't care about refreshing the buffering capacity or ammonia in the aqua soil then go ahead.

I don't particularly want to go through the pain of cycling a tank so I always reuse aqua soil and just use RO water to not exhaust buffering capacity.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Contemplating doing this myself. My soil has only been submerged for a few months and not too much plant growth to exhaust it. I’m wondering if just removing it and keeping it submerged to preserve bacteria is a better route than just draining and baking it and essentially starting over.

 

[Dennis Wong]

Barr has some writing about recharging the aquasoil by soaking it in ammonium sulphate. However, I find that while this works, it doesn't last as long as new aquasoil - its likely that the soaking doesn't penetrate as deeply as the ammonia that is added during the grain forming process when aquasoil is manufactured. Better than no enrichment though. I think ammonia content makes a huge difference to aquasoil impact.

 

[JayP]

Barr has some writing about recharging the aquasoil by soaking it in ammonium sulphate. However, I find that while this works, it doesn't last as long as new aquasoil - its likely that the soaking doesn't penetrate as deeply as the ammonia that is added during the grain forming process when aquasoil is manufactured. Better than no enrichment though. I think ammonia content makes a huge difference to aquasoil impact.

Does recharging it like that provide much benefit over just using some APT Jazz? My primary interests are reusing it for the volume it provides, so lower cost for the smaller amount of new soil needed, and maintaining as much beneficial bacteria still in it as I can, although, I really don't know how much bacteria that is and if it's much benefit at all.

 

[TianChen]

I've done some reading on the subject of reusing aquasoil. There are videos showing fully removing the soil, cleaning it to remove all old detritus, and then even baking it. @Dennis Wong (2hr Aquarist) discusses regular replenishing of depleted aquasoil but I didn't see an article on a complete new scape using old soil. It seems to me that once you have removed all hardscape and livestock from a tank, you could remove a partial amount of soil, stir up what is remaining quite well while also doing a deep vacuum to remove as much detritus as possible, and then add in fresh soil to desired substrate level. In theory this would leave a substantial amount of beneficial bacteria in the tank, and if you're also reusing biomedia, the tank would cycle in very short time.

I was about to start the next couple new tanks with new soil but have paused to consider these options. I currently have 3 scapes that I'll be breaking down, but I can break down one tank at a time now, clean the soil in the tank as I described and, move the soil to the new tank (along with the additional new soil). The catch is that I would still have to do the scaping either underwater, or holding off filling with water for the extended time while I place hardscape, so I don't know how well live bacteria in the old soil would handle that.

Curious to hear other's thoughts, especially if you've actually done this.

mhm, what can i say, these aquarium soils is a bit more complex than you think. From what i am speculate, each pellet is a mixture of clays, activated carbon and humus powder. The thing is, following time, the clay and AC content is remainted intact, but all the humus starts to decay and feeds microbe - this is why it loses the CEC over time, and there isn't any dipping or infusing can't really fix this. It's not the bacteria, its the loss of humus which is crucial , so it is not recycleable.

Reusable is a completely different story, this acts as a perfect gradient capping ( you can cap the NEW aquasoil with the old ones and the tank will have way less problem than you think), or act as a living substrate mixture. However, by mixing them, it would in general, lowers the initial fertility of the aquasoil and you mayhaps need to start ferting sooner.

 

[FatPleco]

How about Zeolite as a substrate? We could soak it in ammonium sulphate periodically.

 

[TianChen]

How about Zeolite as a substrate? We could soak it in ammonium sulphate periodically.

i just thought out a mixture that you can actually try, it is highly renewable lol

 

[riioKen]

This weekend I'll break down my 110x50x60h tank and swap to a 120p (120x50x50).

I want to reuse my old AS (tropica aquasoil, almost 4 years old). I can clearly see that the lower portion of the AS is perfectly fine (intact), but the first 2cm are very dusty. What can I do?

I thought to reuse it (it's around 30-40 litres, and capping it with a bag of apt feast, around 9 litres), I'm a bit afraid of ammonium leeches, I can't cycle it before and then put livestock in. I'll reuse both my biomasters thermo 600 and it'll highly planted.

Edit:
Should I cap the old soil with apt feast or mix them? How can I clean the dusty part?

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

I'd siphon out any dusty and detritus-filled soil first. Then, once only the remaining soil is left in the water, disturb it gently to send all of the detritus into the water column. Keep the dust suspended in the water, and do a big water change to remove as much as possible.

In your scenario, I'd just mix the aquasoils IMO. Otherwise, would be nice to remove the old aquasoil, add the new aquasoil, and cap it with the old aquasoil, but that's a lot of work. Mixing it would probably work just fine.

 

[riioKen]

I'd siphon out any dusty and detritus-filled soil first. Then, once only the remaining soil is left in the water, disturb it gently to send all of the detritus into the water column. Keep the dust suspended in the water, and do a big water change to remove as much as possible.

In your scenario, I'd just mix the aquasoils IMO. Otherwise, would be nice to remove the old aquasoil, add the new aquasoil, and cap it with the old aquasoil, but that's a lot of work. Mixing it would probably work just fine.

Do you think I'll have ammonia spike? Or the plants and the filter will take care of it? Maybe I can do few WC after the setting it up.

I plan to set up the tank this weekend, what if I place the new as in a bucket and do daily WC till the use of it?

 

[BranchScape]

I think the quantum of an ammonia spike is dependent on amount relative to your tank and filters capacity and none of us can tell you with any confidence. If you don't have the feast already you could simply try a less hot soil like controsoil which has never had detectable ammonia for me on day one. I actually always add apt start to it to get that initial spike. Granted you would then likely have to use APT Jazz early on or other stronger root tabs.

 

[Ernesto]

Curious to hear other's thoughts, especially if you've actually done this.

A video from Felipe Oliveira convinced me once to wash and reuse aquasoil and recharge it with root tabs,. In my 120p theres still at least 50% Tropica soil for almost four years now.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

A video from Felipe Oliveira convinced me once to wash and reuse aquasoil and recharge it with root tabs,. In my 120p theres still at least 50% Tropica soil for almost four years now.

I loved this tank, he’s dearly missed.

 

[JayP]

A video from Felipe Oliveira convinced me once to wash and reuse aquasoil and recharge it with root tabs,. In my 120p theres still at least 50% Tropica soil for almost four years now.

Thanks for the video. That is just what I was thinking about.