Expert Substrate question

sfarkhan · Post by **sfarkhan** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 12:33 pm

Building my third tank - replacement for my current 30 gallon.

I currently have ecco complete, which is working well for me - save for carpet plants.

For the new tank - I have two options:
1. mineralized soil capped by black sand.
2. ADA Aquasoil amazonia and powersand.

The mineralized soil (I'll be purchasing it) and sand will cost ~$70 including shipping

The ADA Aquasoil/Powersand came out to $170 not including shipping.

Will Aquasoil make a huge difference in growth? Is it worth the $100+ extra?

The fish will also be transferred directly from the old to the new so I have to make sure it has a soft cycle and I've been told that Aquasoil has a tendency to give off ammonia for the first few weeks.

fjf888 · Post by **fjf888** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 4:21 pm

You could do the aquasoil without the powersand to save some money. Tom Barr has said the powersand is unnecessary if you dose KNO3.

I'll let the MTS experts (who are all here) answer your MTS questions. I know it lasts way longer than aquasoil. Amano actually advises replacing aquasoil every year (probably has something to do with sales).

sfarkhan · Post by **sfarkhan** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 6:17 pm

Okay, that makes it a bit less expensive - removing the powersand and adding another bag of Amazonia would save me ~$27 that helps, but wouldn't that kill off a lot of the nutrient value? I'm not sure I would like to replace my substrate every year - I don't know an easy way to do so without destroying the aquascape.

I like the idea of MTS - I found people in Aquaria Central and Planted tank who sell it - I would make my own, but my apartment in DC does not have the best out door area to put a tarp.

sfarkhan · Post by **sfarkhan** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 6:19 pm

I should state that it's an MTS kit that I'm purchasing with the Pot ash, etc - and $70 includes the added cost of sand to cap.

fjf888 · Post by **fjf888** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 10:36 pm

My opinion, and there are others here that are far more experienced then me, is that MTS would be the far superior answer if you wanted a layout for the long haul. If you're the type that likes to redo and rescape their tank every year then use the aquasoil.

What are you using for the sand cap. The 3m Colorquartz type T recommended here is no longer available.

I believe powersand is more hype than substance. It supplies a lot of N, but that runs out relatively quickly, and the N can be supplied by dry dosing KNO3, as well as all other major nutrients. If you want to just use ADA products then I think you probably need the powersand in that case. Certainly hard to argue with the results. Its the price of everything in the aggregate that I think borders on the absurd. Aquasoil though is worth the money if you go that route.

sfarkhan · Post by **sfarkhan** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 11:19 pm

I'll go with MTS - I was going to use either Estes black or fluorite black sand - is fluorite overkill? What do you recommend?

Jim Miller · Post by **Jim Miller** » Sun Apr 03, 2011 11:22 pm

I'm finding the FBS fine grains really nice in capturing plants. Just poke a forefinger in, push in the plant and give the FBS a pinch and they're well snagged. Stauro just takes a poke per stem.

Jim

DonkeyFish · Post by **DonkeyFish** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 6:07 pm

Just to chime in real quick on sand choices... be careful. There are some products bagged as sand that are more likely to be welding sl*g and by-product. If you notice a shimmer or glittery aspect or if the texture is super fine to coarser with random bigger chunks it may be" black beauty". While I never found any true experiments or such proof, from personal experience I can say I would bet that's what it is. And if so, beware if you have or plan on keeping bottom dwellers or substrate sifting types of critters as the particles are sharp, unlike natural sand or man-made sand products like colorquartz. Long-term I would also be curious about leeching of metals and/or chemicals that may not be fish-friendly. But again, I never found (or admittedly looked TOO hard) for anything to officially back that up.

So that's my 2 cents to throw out there and stir things up!

kwells · Post by **kwells** » Mon Apr 04, 2011 6:50 pm

I use black flourite sand and it works great. I don't have experience with the other substrate you've mentioned, but I use black flourite sand in a 3.5 gallon non-CO2 tank and have no trouble growing glosso. Are you sure your substrate is the problem you're having growing carpeting plants, and not the lighting?

Expert Substrate question

Expert Substrate question

Sponsors