Adding food to new sand

[Cody Ray]

What are your opinions on adding fish food (such as flake or pellets) to a new sandbed to increase nutrient levels?

 

[pinkninja]

I've heard of people burying a raw shrimp into their sand. I would only do it during the beginning of a cycle though.

 

[Samala]

I wouldn't do it only because its going to breakdown first into high levels of ammonia. Unless you have killer bioload capacity that can cycle to NH3/NH4 to NO2/NO3 quickly, it could create problems for delicate tank inhabitants and is very likely to spark cyanobacteria or dinoflagellate blooms.

Processed food.. detritus.. from established tanks would be so much better for this application and getting organic matter into the substrate.

>Sarah