Is ADA Aquasoil (New) right for me?

GR1KTR

GR1KTR

Aspiring Aquascaper
Hi All,

I'm creating a low tech (excel based) 11g (43L) and intend to plant Crypts/Lilaeopsis, meaning that a good substrate will be useful. It seems that ADA Aquasoil (New) is significantly popular among ASW Experts. I am prepared to pay for quality, and most definitely not interested in playing with potting mix! I understand that as well as ADA Aquasoil, there are others such as Eco Complete, Flourite etc. that are also favoured by ASW Experts, but I'll get back to those in a moment.

So all good, I could just use ADA Aquasoil and be done with it, right? But wait.. ADA Aquasoil is reported to create plant friendly water chemistry by keeping pH GH & KH low, when I already have tap water that is low in these values. Here are my tap water parameters:

pH 6.5
GH 1.6
KH < 1
Iron 0.04 mg/L
Nitrate (N) 0.16-0.50 mg/L
Phosphorus 0.006 mg/L
Potassium (K) 0.7-2.2 mg/L

As you can see, my effort is usually involved in the increase of GH / KH (I aim for GH 4-5, KH 3-4) not the other way around as seems to be offered by ADA Aquasoil (New).

Is ADA Aquasoil (New) suitable for my tap water parameters? Specifically, why would I need a soil that promotes soft, plant friendly water when I seem to already have this? Is there still benefit for me in using ADA Aquasoil? Will the addition of this soil reduce my already low parameters?

Does ADA Aquasoil (New) fertilise my plants, that is, provide them with any NPK + Traces?

So, if told by an expert that I should not use ADA Aquasoil, what is the most suitable substrate for me.. Eco Complete, another ADA Substrate that is inert?

Many thanks in advance.
 
Aquasoil Amazonia induces lower hardness and africana possibly increases carbonate hardness (inline with natural water chemistry of those regions). I have used amazonia only but never tested for how much it reduces hardness and increases acidity. I don't do RO and my tap water is moderately hard (GH: 4, KH: 3) and neutral (ph around 7). With these parameters, I have not had any problems with growing any types of plants in it. If you are planning for low tech, the soil itself should be sufficient for providing nutrients (along with what comes in the tap water + fish food) in my opinion. But every setup is unique and it is hard to give an absolute answer. I think you should be ok with Aquasoil amazonia but should measure for high N and may be P periodically since you are planning to use excel based Carbon only. Also go with very low lights.
 
Thanks Malay. It's interesting that the GH / KH level of your tap water is around where I aim to keep mine, prior to adding Amazonia. What GH + KH + pH do keep your tankwater, where Amazonia is in use? This info may give me an idea of the potential hardness swing, and effect on pH..


If you are planning for low tech, the soil itself should be sufficient for providing nutrients (along with what comes in the tap water + fish food) in my opinion.
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That sounds like good news to me. I'm trying to keep this low maintenance, so reducing the fert-regime is a plus.

I think you should be ok with Aquasoil amazonia but should measure for high N and may be P periodically
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Is Aquasoil over-doing it then?




 
I think you are over complicating it.

GH can have a WIDE range and still be just fine for nearly all aquatic plants as long as you have sufficient levels of Mg and Ca. KH is needed to buffer pH and ensure there are no large swings that can negatively effect a fish's osmoregulation. Adding some KH and GH to water is already necessary. I would keep in mind what type of fish you wish to keep. Rainbows like harder water, South American fish would like yours as is or with the bit of change aquasoil would do. If the fish are acclimated well they shouldn't have much of a problem, sudden changes are the issue most often.

The primary benefit of aquasoil is not the softening of water, and that effect is minimal, it is the high CEC and rich nutrient content. Nitrate is the only compound (from reading some of Tom Barr's info) that is not bound well in aquasoil, or any substrate for that matter. I would still recommend dosing the water column with a small amount of macro and micro nutrients. My low tech low maintenance tanks have gotten a fert dose once a week and a water change once a month (or less when lazy) and used aquasoil. No issues with deficiencies. Aquasoil's rich nutrients provide a buffer for laziness.

From what I understand about eco complete and some of those other substrates is that they have a lower CEC or are actually inert, making them less desirable than aquasoil.

It is possible to have a successful planted tank with just pool filter sand too. More possible with a low tech tank, but regular dosing of the water column would be necessary.
 
GR1KTR said:
Thanks Malay. It's interesting that the GH / KH level of your tap water is around where I aim to keep mine, prior to adding Amazonia. What GH + KH + pH do keep your tankwater, where Amazonia is in use? This info may give me an idea of the potential hardness swing, and effect on pH..




That sounds like good news to me. I'm trying to keep this low maintenance, so reducing the fert-regime is a plus.



Is Aquasoil over-doing it then?
Click to expand...

pH will change based on how much CO2 is available in the water. Amazonia will reduce the pH too for some period but that depends upon soil:water ratio and how long the soil is there (among other factors). So over time amazonia will loose its pH reducing factor. My tank substrate has been there for over 3 years now, but I have a big tank and plenty of soil in there (like 8-10 bags...i don't remember) so it still has some nutrients left (enough to grow plants without much nutrient addition). But it does not affect the pH anymore, so I have what I have in my tap water.

The soil does not affect hardness though, it all depends on your tap water and what you add - what is consumed by plants.

Aquasoil will have plenty of nutrients to begin with but through water changes and plant uptake that will reduce with time. In a tank with 2 inch avg. of amazonia substrate, my experience shows sufficient substrate nutrient levels even after a year. I normally like heavily planted tanks so you get an idea.
 
Thanks ShadowMac. I'm happy to hear that I can simplify things a lot here. Based on your info I am pretty confident that Aquasoil will be okay, so long as I also dose a small amount of macros + micros. I don't have an answer for fish stocks just yet, but tend to use only the most suitable species for the WC in my tank anyhow.

Thanks Malay. You have provided a very useful example of personal experience in using this product. Interesting to hear that the Aquasoil previously affected pH, but but not anymore.. after 3 years I'm not surprised though I guess.
 
GH can have a WIDE range and still be just fine for nearly all aquatic plants as long as you have sufficient levels of Mg and Ca
Click to expand...

ShadowMac. How much Mg and Ca would you consider sufficient for my low tech goal? My tap water contains the following (median) values: Mg 2mg/L and Ca 7.5 mg/L - will I need to add these to the dosing regime?
 
Generally the recommended range for CA is 15 ppm (15mg/l) and Mg is 5 ppm. A GH booster containing CaSO4 or CaCl and MgSO4 in a 4:1 ratio respectively added at water change once a week would do it.
 
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