ADA Substrate for Crystals/TBs

[Simplicity]

Hey All,
I am building a new shrimp tank with a new 40G tank I got. I need to order my aquasoil and have really liked ADA Amazonia II. Unfortunately I want my ph lower to help my baby survival as I simply could not keep the babies alive in 6.8pH.

Should I :
1. Use 3 Bags (3x9L) ADA Africana
2. Use 2 Bags (2x9L) ADA Africana and 1 Bag (1x9L) ADA Amazonia II Powder Size as a cap?
3. Or 2/3 Amazonia and 1/3 Africana and mix it

Does anyone have any tips on setting up a new tank?

I want to cap the Africana with Amazonia Powder. What are your thoughts?

I want to add a base layer of Mosura BT-9 & Mosura Old Sea Mud. Inquired to Liam for his special substrate sauce.

WIll be using sponge filter + canister filter from established CRS tank and transfer them over.

Aiming for a 6.0pH (good for my TBs and CRS I think), gH 5, and a TDS of around 100-125

[GeToChKn]

They all buffer different and have different amounts of ammonia, etc. You're bests sticking with one type of soil for the entire tank. Africana can buffer down to 5-5.5 range, and say amazonia to 6-6.5 range, they are going to be competing.

[speedie408]

UGF with ADA AS "new", ran by a sufficient canister filter. No need to use Africana. TBs do just fine with using only AS.

Will you be using 100% RO? If so you should be able to meet your desired params easily if you remineralize properly.

[Betta Maniac]

Amazonia buffers down to 6 or below for me with no problem (test doesn't go any lower). And that's true with RO water and with my tap (which is, admittedly, quite soft).

[plamski]

For 40Gal tank you will need 3-4" of substrate to keep PH under 6.Africana or Malaya is the best for me. TB's pops very nice .For UGF you will need 2" of bio-balls or Seachem matrix to cover the pipes then 3-4" substrate. You will need long UGF pipes and low water flow in order to keep substrate in shape. Otherwise you have to replace it every 12-15 months.

[sbarbee54]

Depends on your starting water and your RO water change parameters. My africana buffered down to 4.6 with 2" of substrate. I had to pull half it and put in Amazonia new, now with 2" with 75% amazonia new and 25% africana I get PH 5.7 They are all doing well in it. But were doing well in my tank with Akadama buffering to 6.1, they had all their babies in there before I moved them. If I had to do it all over again, I would just do Amazonia new, no afrincana. Because my water is pretty soft as is. 7.0PH Gh2 KH0-1 tDS 30, that is out of the tap. My RO durring summer is 6.4-6.6 GH0 KH 0 durring winter and spring it is 5.7-5.8 GH0 KH0 so when I do water changes I have to mix a little tap to bring it up a bit or it will buffer it down to 5.4-5.5 ish. I like to keep it stable

[speedie408]

Also, I'd recommend not using a 40B, but instead use a 20long or tall. Much easier to maintain water params, not too big to where shrimp can't find each other to consummate, and not too small to where you'll need more room later on. You'll probably sell/give away shrimp faster than they can repopulate in a 20g.

[Simplicity]

Thanks for the replies.

I will be using 100% RO, remineralized to how I need.

Unfortunately this was a free 40G tank (not long) I will measure tonight and return the specs. (90cm wide x like 30 cm x 50cm high?)

I dont plan on using a UGF........ is there a significant benefit? Will it be useless to add bacter to the glass prior to substrate without a UGF??

[Simplicity]

Yikes so my tank specs were accurate 36"x12"x20"

I've purchased all the PVC pipe and pieces to make a similar Ugf as Liam/mordalphus, ahha post above said I wouldn't do Ugf! Changed my mind at home depot last night!!

Now I'm about to order my ADA. For my tank size do you recommend 2x 9L bags of Amazonia or Africana?

I plan on keeping various TBs and Sss CRS. I'm guessing pH will be around 5ph.... If I add a bag of Amazonia powder as a cap will that be any better? I'm aiming for 5.5 ph and don't know why to buy for the substrate

[sbarbee54]

Amazonia, skip the Africana

[Simplicity]

There seems to be a strong lean toward new Amazonia for my tb tank.

Does any1 recommend adding something ontop of the matrix above the. Ugf besides soil