Planted Tank Newbie

[SDWalters]

Hi All

I was intending on switching my current substrate over from gravel to a mix of ADA aquasoil Amazonia & Aqua clay pebbles. I have since read that the ADA Aquasoil is going to cause a ammonia spike and i have fish in my tank so am worried now.

I have 2 established external filters running on the 5ft (approx 300litre) tank which run on approx a x 8 turnover plus a powerhead and was intending on placing all my gravel in a mesh bag in the tank & adding a concentrated bacteria additive. I will have over 175 plants in the tank as well.

Do you think that the ammonia spike would be cancelled out by the established bacteria plus the additive (and daily waterchanges) or do i need to find a temporary home for my fish?

Alternatively would soaking the ADA aquasoil and adding a bacteria concentrate in a bucket for 3-4 days do the trick?

Any help or advice would be great!

 

[anshuman]

I had a established tank with huge goldies, I removed half of golden gravel and added Amazonia ADA II at bottom and planted again , there was small spike but the huge bacteria colonies in old gravel (which i made sure stayed in old water when replacing) and filter media took on the new spike and its all okay now, I dont see ANY ammonia now.


(yea yea i know goldies and plants dont go together, but i have somehow trained my goldies not to go near plants and they are now going wild in val jungle).

 

[SDWalters]

I was hoping that my thoughts were correct and I think with the extra bacteria concentrate (any recommendation I have heard mixed feedback on Bio-Spira) the spike should be minimal......

Would like to hear some more opinions to back that up though please and any experience others have had with this.

 

[SDWalters]

Anyone else had any experience?