From that, soil for an aquarium is picked how correctly up and prepared, depends wellbeing both its inhabitants, and the plants growing in it. For this reason the problem of selection and preparation of soil is more difficult, than it seems at first sight.
Instruction
1. The main problem is that the majority of aquarian fishes well feel only in soft water. If the soil taken for an aquarium contains soluble salts of calcium, they will gradually pass into water and to increase its rigidity that will have an adverse effect on inhabitants of an aquarium.
2. For this reason the algorithm "find beautiful soil, wash out, fill in an aquarium" is wrong. Beautiful does not mean good therefore for an aquarium it is impossible to use coral sand, small shell rock, a marble crumb, kind of beautifully they did not look.
3. Fine sand with a diameter of grains of sand more small than 1 mm also will not be suitable for an aquarium. Such soil will be too dense, almost impenetrable for water, in it rotting processes will surely begin. In such soil plants badly feel, their leaves will be small and faded.
4. As option, in case of use of fine sand in an aquarium it is necessary to arrange the second plastic bottom with nasverlenny small openings in it. The distance between a bottom of an aquarium and the second bottom makes 1-2 cm. The small grid is put on the second bottom in two layers (not metal!), on it sand is filled. From space under the second bottom the pomp pumps out water, its compulsory circulation through soil thereby is provided. The similar second bottom is useful for any aquarium.
5. Gravel from quartz or feldspar will be the best choice for aquarian soil small, with a diameter from 1 to 5 mm. Fill up it in a basin, fill in with water, merge the emerged garbage. Then wash out, actively mixing until water does not remain absolutely clear.
6. In case there is a suspicion on the increased calcium content, soil should be processed in addition hydrochloric acid, the gulf for a couple of hours in a plastic basin. Then it it is necessary to wash not less than half an hour with flowing water to remove all traces of acid. To check whether there is in soil a calcium, splash on it hydrochloric acid or even usual vinegar. If there are bubbles, soil needs processing by acid.
7. The aquarian soil prepared thus will not saturate water with calcium salts therefore its rigidity will remain long time at optimum level. Sometimes the beginning aquarians only add water instead of evaporated – it is wrong as leads to gradual increase in level of rigidity. It is recommended not to add, and weekly to change not less than 1/5 from the volume of all water which is in an aquarium.