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.