Planted Tanks: how often to change the substrate?

[salamanderkeeper]

I used to keep terrestrial salamanders in plantless tanks or sometimes one or two plants in a pot and change the substrate out periodically. I went to heavily planted tanks when I got back into salamanders a couple of years ago but I was wondering if I ever need to change the substrate or if it's something like a fish tank where a balance of springtails, bacteria, and nutrient cycling by the plants keeps things in check? With aquatics I can easily check the water conditions but with soil I guess I have no real way of knowing if anything were becoming problematic?

 

[Niels D]

If you set up a solid bioactive system with proper drainage, isopods, and springtails, it’s possible to create a more permanent setup. However, it all depends on the stocking density (the number of animals versus the space available). You’ll also need to stir the top layer of the substrate occasionally

 

[salamanderkeeper]

How often do you do that. Im at 2 years on most of my tanks with the same soil and wondering if thats too long