Re: What happens to deep substrate too deep? You might also want to measure the substrate depth accurately with tape measure or the like. I noticed when I guestimated soil depth, I often ended up overestimating how deep my soil was. If the deepest part isn't over 1.5", I wouldn't worry about it, but if you did see spots that were in the 2-3" range, you might want to consider redoing the tank.
Definitely find a few Malaysian Trumpet Snails if you haven't already. They're great for aerating the soil. I'd recommend throwing in those sword plants, too. They can help suck up some of the excess nutrients from a large soil depth.
How about a picture of the tank? |