Switch From Sand To Semi-walstad Tank?

Hello all! I currently have a 10 gallon (tall style) that has a betta and a bunch of shrimp. It also has 2 indo rabbit snails. I have a sand substrate and a few random plants (my LFS does not label them typically so I honestly do not know what they are). The more I read about Walstad tanks, I would like to do a switch if possible. I've used aquarium soil briefly but didn't know what I was doing, didn't cap it, and it was too messy so I went to sand.

Now that I know I should be capping it with some gravel and plenty of plants, I'm hoping I can make the switch. Everything I'm reading says that it can take a month or two to settle and have all the levels be good for the fish. I'm wondering if I use aquarium soil vs. the top soil Walstad tanks call for, would that work to be able to put my betta back in there same day?

Thank you for any advice you can give me on this! I really just want a heavier planted tank without much maintenance/CO2 that will fit my betta's natural habitat a little better. Thanks

 

Well, it could work, but you should keep a watchful eye on parameters for any potential spike. Your nitrifying bacteria don't just settle in your filter but on all surfaces of your aquarium. The substrate has a massive amount of surface area and changing it out could potentially take a chunk of your bacteria colony out and the remaining colony will work pretty hard. Not just because of your stock, but mostly from the ammonia that soils will inevitably leech. My local fish club actually informed me about what they're calling bio-balls, but not talking about the plastic balls used in pond filtration. Here's a link of the one that biohome produces:



Its live nitrifying bacteria in a eco-friendly gel casing. It's supposed to slowly release the nitrifying bacteria when any ammonia becomes available in the water column. I think it would be extremely useful for you.

angelcraze has been wonderfully informative and friendly with me about walstad tanks. I'm currently planning out a walstad tank and very close to starting it. She has some insane walstad tanks... they're freaking awesome.

 

Well, it could work, but you should keep a watchful eye on parameters for any potential spike. Your nitrifying bacteria don't just settle in your filter but on all surfaces of your aquarium. The substrate has a massive amount of surface area and changing it out could potentially take a chunk of your bacteria colony out and the remaining colony will work pretty hard. Not just because of your stock, but mostly from the ammonia that soils will inevitably leech. My local fish club actually informed me about what they're calling bio-balls, but not talking about the plastic balls used in pond filtration. Here's a link of the one that biohome produces:



Its live nitrifying bacteria in a eco-friendly gel casing. It's supposed to slowly release the nitrifying bacteria when any ammonia becomes available in the water column. I think it would be extremely useful for you.

angelcraze has been wonderfully informative and friendly with me about walstad tanks. I'm currently planning out a walstad tank and very close to starting it. She has some insane walstad tanks... they're freaking awesome.

Thank you! I'll look at her profile and see if she has some photos of her tanks. I was thinking of just buying a new tank to practice on but I don't have the space unfortunately. Plus in my area tanks with hoods/lids are a lot more expensive. I need a lid due to my 2 cats :| (tiny devils lol) I'll keep this in mind! I'm wondering if I can maybe just add new plants to the sand and use what I've seen people post about (root tabs??) to try to give it a heavier planted feel.

 

Thank you! I'll look at her profile and see if she has some photos of her tanks. I was thinking of just buying a new tank to practice on but I don't have the space unfortunately. Plus in my area tanks with hoods/lids are a lot more expensive. I need a lid due to my 2 cats :| (tiny devils lol) I'll keep this in mind! I'm wondering if I can maybe just add new plants to the sand and use what I've seen people post about (root tabs??) to try to give it a heavier planted feel.

You could do a planted tank with sand substrate, it's possible. I would recommend avoiding heavy root-feeding plants, like swords, though. I'm sure you're aware, with sand being inert root tabs can only go so far, but it would help with easier, more forgiving plants. It's also good to consider the grain size of the sand; fine sand, like play sand, is usually not really great just because it can be too light to plant new plants that barely have any established roots, and over time fine sand compacts which would jeopardize root development. Slightly larger grain sizes would be better for plants to avoid such issues.

With that said, I would probably recommend crypts, water wisteria, banana plant, jungle val and dwarf/sag have worked for me in sand as well, stem plants like moneywort (bacopa monnieri), ludwigia repens, anacharis to name a few. Depending on your light, you may have a few more options, too.

I've come to notice that some really nice aquascapes that look really nice are utilizing really easy plants upon closer inspection. So if you're looking for that heavily planted look, you can do it with easy plants.

 

Thank you! I'll look at her profile and see if she has some photos of her tanks. I was thinking of just buying a new tank to practice on but I don't have the space unfortunately. Plus in my area tanks with hoods/lids are a lot more expensive. I need a lid due to my 2 cats :| (tiny devils lol) I'll keep this in mind! I'm wondering if I can maybe just add new plants to the sand and use what I've seen people post about (root tabs??) to try to give it a heavier planted feel.

HI there! I've posted pics here and there, but not under my own profile, sorry if you couldn't find any. I don't actually do Walstad tanks, but they are dirted and I apply info I learned from Diana. By far, my favorite, longest lasting fully dirted tank is my 90g. Here's a pic showing you can have a crazy jungle with easy plants like candiedragon was saying



I have a suggestion for you regarding adding dirt to an existing tank. Dirted pots! I plant my heavy rooters like sword plants, aponogentons and crinum in pots if the tank can't be fully converted to a dirted tank. I add a thin layer of pea gravel, a layer of soil, plant the roots and stabilize the plant base with a Pool Filter Sand cap. Then I slowly lower the planted plant and all into the tank. I added a bunch of pots to my 120 gallon to get it dirted and provide good root nutrition for the swords. I added all these plants over the years while my fish were still in there. This is my 120g.


You can see the difference between using dirt and just inert gravel with how my foreground is growing. I just added root tabs last night to see if it helps out the dwarf sag. If not I'll be adding big containers of dirt to the front too.

And for tank lids, I buy these picture frames from the dollar store that rest on the tank rI'm of my smaller tanks. Just a pic of one of the tank tops


Well it's my emersed croton, but you can see the picture frame glass. I have two of these on my 3ft tank.

 

HI there! I've posted pics here and there, but not under my own profile, sorry if you couldn't find any. I don't actually do Walstad tanks, but they are dirted and I apply info I learned from Diana. By far, my favorite, longest lasting fully dirted tank is my 90g. Here's a pic showing you can have a crazy jungle with easy plants like candiedragon was saying
View attachment 549491

I have a suggestion for you regarding adding dirt to an existing tank. Dirted pots! I plant my heavy rooters like sword plants, aponogentons and crinum in pots if the tank can't be fully converted to a dirted tank. I add a thin layer of pea gravel, a layer of soil, plant the roots and stabilize the plant base with a Pool Filter Sand cap. Then I slowly lower the planted plant and all into the tank. I added a bunch of pots to my 120 gallon to get it dirted and provide good root nutrition for the swords. I added all these plants over the years while my fish were still in there. This is my 120g.
View attachment 549497
You can see the difference between using dirt and just inert gravel with how my foreground is growing. I just added root tabs last night to see if it helps out the dwarf sag. If not I'll be adding big containers of dirt to the front too.

And for tank lids, I buy these picture frames from the dollar store that rest on the tank rI'm of my smaller tanks. Just a pic of one of the tank tops
View attachment 549498
Well it's my emersed croton, but you can see the picture frame glass. I have two of these on my 3ft tank.

Thank you so much! I ended up buying a newer and bigger tank and am going to start over haha Mine won't be truly walstad either but I want to apply some of the low tech methods I guess. Thank you for the ideas! Your tanks are gorgeous. I hope I can get mine to forest all crazy like that. Now to just find a new stand too haha

 

Thank you so much! I ended up buying a newer and bigger tank and am going to start over haha Mine won't be truly walstad either but I want to apply some of the low tech methods I guess. Thank you for the ideas! Your tanks are gorgeous. I hope I can get mine to forest all crazy like that. Now to just find a new stand too haha

Thanks, yes a dirted tank will forest no problem with the right plants.

Here's some others I've had





My 90g when I first started it years ago


My 5.5g (first dirted tank)



I think I'll always use soil in my tanks. There's just no comparison.

 

Thanks, yes a dirted tank will forest no problem with the right plants.

Here's some others I've had
View attachment 549811 View attachment 549833 View attachment 549834 View attachment 549835
My 90g when I first started it years ago
View attachment 549812
My 5.5g (first dirted tank)
View attachment 549813

I think I'll always use soil in my tanks. There's just no comparison.

Those are so so pretty! Ahh I cannot WAIT for my tank to get here. I'm gonna start looking at soil and gravel here soon. I also posted another post about the list of plants I want to use if you wouldn't mind checking that out and dropping some knowledge on me?! If not, no worries! Thank you again for all the inspo. I'm mentally trying to plan it all out haha I need to buy some hardscape too the stuff I have will be too little for a 20gal.

 

No problem, I hope it all goes well I will check out your other thread.