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Originally Posted by mrbelvedere138
Isn't a main ingredient in Aquasoil peat? Shouldn't it by definition break down over time? Momotaro, I didn't know you had a 37. I love that tank design. We should form a 37 pimp club.
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No, it's clay, I get get specific about the type of clay, but it'll hold little meaning to folks here.
There are some humics in it, but not large peat fragments.
You can add a little peat to the bottom if you desire the effects more.
People have whined and suggested the pH/KH issue is an issue.
I have not found any basis for this claim.
Neither has Jeff, nor others that have used it.
Some folks obsess wayyyyyy tooooo much about their measurements and then think they must do something about it......
Relax.......look at your plants/fish etc.
CO2 is easy to measure by an indirect method if you must use a pH controller etc.
I've been mainly eye balling CO2, I'll use a ruler to get close, say the water is a KH 2 in the tank, the tap is 5.
I'll do a big water change, say 80% and then measure the KH difference between the tank asap and the tap.
It's geneally real close.
So the tank is at a KH of 5.
Go to the chart.
Dail in about 6.6-6.7 pH.
Observe, then add a bit more CO2.
From here on, the pH and KH will start to move right?
That's okay..........why?
Because the rate of CO2 that you are adding is the same and the plant's use of CO2/uptake etc is still the same.
All you have lost is the temp way to measure CO2.
But the rate of CO2 being added is still the same as is the uptake.
That does not change...........
We eventually add nutrients/CO2 etc to get the results with bthe plants we desire, not to target "some number".
While I test a fair amount, the limitations of testing to achieve a certain asethetic is quite another matter.
Generally we want the tank to look nice, to that end, ADA soil is excellent.
If testing is your gig, hobby, passion, inert substrates with no nutrient content, no binding potential/ no CEC, no organic matter, frequently cleans etc is what you'll want.
I did this with RFUG's and plain sand for about 10 years with plants.
All my tanks are now ADA soil tanks.
I've switched 2 of the non CO2 tanks over as well.
I'm curious to see how they do.
Regards,
Tom Barr