I deliberately use a thin layer of soil. My aim is to release nutrients and cycle the tanks faster so I can move shrimp in and begin breeding sooner, making better use of the time each setup can produce.
I prefer ADA soil because I know how it behaves. Familiarity matters when managing many racks.
Why thin, not deep
- Faster release of nutrients.
- A faster cycle.
- A quicker route to productive breeding tanks.
Farm note: My thin soil method is built around timing and a regular work cycle. I use it with the expectation that the tanks will need refreshing.
What comes with it
A thin layer of soil has a limited buffering life. Around the six-month mark, I expect the nutrients and buffering capacity to decline. That is when I plan a soft reset, because the soil has reached the end of that work cycle, even if the tank still looks clean.