Lifespan of substrate

[smaug]

Here is a question that has been brought up on another thread.How long is a substrates lifespan in an average aquarium?It would be interesting for everyone to post what is the longest time they have had the same substrate.The longest I have had the same stuff was 3 years.My wife has had some in use for 4 years.Technical answers as well as anecdotal will be welcomed.

[Rue]

I dunno...9 years for the 25g tank...

[jbeining75]

I had an Oscar tank up in Hawaii over 7 years with no problems. The longer is it established the easier it gets to control.

[Litespeed]

Eheim says to change about a third of the substrat, but it doesn't say how often. Will the substrat simply start decomposing after a time? How do you know when it should be changed?

[cocoa_pleco]

gravel and sand should be good for a long time. worst thing that could happen to gravel is it gets finer over time

i had the same gravel in a 33g from 2002-2006 without issues

[smaug]

Im not really thinking of what happens to the mechanical propertys of the substrate although I know for a fact that colored gravel goes bad after a few years,the coating wears off and exposes what ever the strate its made of,I had that happen.Im talking about a buildup of undesirable bacteria and detritus,thus killing off or lessening the good effect of any desireable bact.

[squirt_12]

I have had the same gravel in my 33g for about....6 years. It was in my 20g at one point. Then got transfered to the 33g.

[NickFish]

Substrate gets old? I knew colored gravel does but sand and proper aquarium gravel should last awhile.

I've had the same sand going from betta tank to betta tank since before I was born. It must be 25+ years old, although it has only been under water for 15 or so of those years.

[smaug]

No ,i dont think the gravel itself gets old,Im speaking of the biosystem it harbors.Im not even saying that occurs,just one of those things Ive "heard".With the input Ive gotten so far Id say that its leaning towards no age limit.

[Adrian]

I don't ever replace my substrate. I don't see a reason too. A mature substrate harbors all kinds of micro organisms that help the aquarium. Sure, periodically, I may give my gravel/sand a quick rinse in cool water to rinse out excess detris, but that is all I ever do.

I do not see a reason to replace the substrate. Many aquariums don't even use a substrate, preferring a bare bottom. The only reason I can see of ever switching/changing a substrate if for the human factor of a different color.

My flourite tank is doing great. Sure the iron content runs out after about a year or so, but that can be fixed with ferts. Eco-complete I am unsure of. I haven't had that for that long.

I think if you are doing your weekly water changes, and gravel vacumning, I don't ever see a reason that it would need tending too. I had a 55 gallon with the same substrate for a very long time, and again, I only occaisonally rinsed the gravel to remove the dead or decaying particles. Most times the bacteria did it for me.

I don't know if that is what you were looking for Smaug, but that is all I can offer you.

[Blue Ram]

I had my blue substarte in my 10g for 4 years then i had chlorine poisoning and decided to get some new gravel because i didnt like the color anymore.

I think that substarte can be used for about 30 years and then needs replacing IMO.

[PUNISHER VETTE]

yeah my Seachem Fluorite runs out of the valuable minerals that the plants need but it takes years. And since i went with 4+ inches in my new tank i'm in it for the long haul.

[smaug]

Well thanks all for the replies.That will give me info to use the next time the subject arises with my other fish pals.