Soilmaster Select or Aqua Soil

[Bgssamson]

Looking to buy substrate for my 55g. Does anyone here with experience on both of this stuff enlighten me. Sean the soilmaster any comments on this!
:lol:

-Brian

[krisw]

I have a 20G and 40G with ADA Amazonia, and I just recently redid my 75G with Soilmaster Select (Red). To be perfectly honest, I really like both of these substrates.

The Amazonia does lower the PH slightly, and does not need to be dosed for a first few months that you setup the tank. The graduale size is smaller than flourite, and holds plants down very nicely. The color is a nice earthy color, that looks natural.

Soilmaster select is definitely worth the price. One 50lb bag will fill your 55G, so your cost should be about $18. Soilmaster is a little bit lighter than ADA's substrate, but I have not had any trouble having it hold down my plants. Care should be taken when vacuuming, but this is true for most substrates. The Red color is really more tan than red. It has an earthly color to it also, but is slightly lighter/tanner than Amazonia. Soilmaster is said to have a better CEC than flourite, which means that it can store nutrients very well for uptake by the plants. Thus far, I've had no trouble growing glosso, elatine triandra, blyxa japanica, marseila, anubias, etc in it. Of course, I've been dosing.

btw. I never rinse my substrates. Some people complain that Soilmaster is fairly dusty. If you fill your tank carefully, and are willing to clean your filters frequently during the first couple of weeks, it's not really a problem, and the smaller granules settle to the bottom.

So, long in short. I recommend both of these substrates.

Below you can see the coloration of the Soilmaster Select Red:

[Bgssamson]

krisw,

Thanks for the quick response! Do you need to put anything under Soilmaster Select?

Thanks again,

-Brian

[krisw]

Nope. Soilmaster select will absorb nutrients from the water column, so there's no need for laterite or anything like that. This said, I did add ADA Tourlamine BC powder, but that is certainly not needed.

[Bgssamson]

Really appreaciate your help on this! im ordering right now & hopefully they have it in stock locally.

Thanks!

-Brian

[krisw]

Sure... One last thing. Make sure to get "Soilmaster Select" and not just "Soilmaster." The granule size is much smaller with the "Select," which is what you want.

Also, I got mine from the Lesco shop in Elkridge.

[Ben Belton]

Kris,

Your description of the Soilmaster Select makes me think of Florabase. How do they compare. I like Florabase.

Ben

[krisw]

Ben,

I've never used Florabase myself, actually, so I couldn't tell you. I seem to remember that the granule size is similar. I would bet that Florabase is more expensive.

btw... If anyone wants to try Soilmaster Select Red, I have 1/2 to 2/3 of a bag left from when I did my 75G. Just PM me before the next meeting, and I'll bring it along to Aaron's house. (You bring a bucket, I'll fill it) I probably have enough to fill a 40-50 gallon tank, but that's just a guesstimate.

[Ben Belton]

Ben,

I've never used Florabase myself, actually, so I couldn't tell you. I seem to remember that the granule size is similar. I would bet that Florabase is more expensive.

btw... If anyone wants to try Soilmaster Select Red, I have 1/2 to 2/3 of a bag left from when I did my 75G. Just PM me before the next meeting, and I'll bring it along to Aaron's house. (You bring a bucket, I'll fill it) I probably have enough to fill a 40-50 gallon tank, but that's just a guesstimate.

It's pretty expensive.

I'll bring my bucket to the next meeting.

Ben

[krisw]

I'll bring my bucket to the next meeting.

Ben, you're really driving up for the next meeting, eh? What a treat!