Any Subsutite for ADA Amazonia II

aquagirl · 03-28-2008, 03:58 PM

Hello All,

I would like to keep some CRS. I have had a few in the past and they did not do well in my water. I was told that if I use ADA Amazonia II, half RO water and half tap water that I would then have the ideal environment for CRS.

The cost of buying it and then the shipping is more than I can afford

. Does anyone know if there is a product that is compatible but less expensive? I can obtain most of the popular substraights locally which would save a bunch on shipping.

Water Parameters

GH- 7
KH- 3
PH- 7.4 out of tap

Sponsors

**frozenbarb** · 03-28-2008, 05:02 PM

You could try to search up Florabase. Its almost the same. But people have said it melts and could turn your tank into mud.

But A Hill has it in his CBS 10g and its good. You should be able to find it locally. If not. Ordering ADA would be cheaper.

mgamer20o0 · 03-28-2008, 05:23 PM

i know people who use peat in a holding bin then move it over when doing water changes.

limnidi · 03-28-2008, 07:36 PM

If you are diligent about mixing half RO and tap for your water changes, you do not really need the special substrate. This method will keep your kh/gh low enough. I tried breeding CRS in a 5 gal with this method and was successful.

dhavoc · 03-28-2008, 10:20 PM

you dont need the amazonia, it just make it easier as it softens the water. but you indicated you have access to RO anyway, so use any inert substrate (not eco or tahitian moon sand as they buffer water) and mix ro/tap and you should be fine. temp is also an issue, so keep them on the cool side (70-74F) and your good to go.

aquagirl · 03-29-2008, 06:10 PM

Thank you all for your help and suggestions.

I think that I will try the half RO with half tap water in a tank with some small fish. I will monitor the water perimeters to make sure that they are appropriate for the CRS before adding any.

**lauraleellbp** · 03-29-2008, 06:41 PM

I've heard some reports of SMS and Turface also lowering the gH and kH- that would be a very cheap substrate option to try? I bet you could get enough for a shrimp tank pretty cheap in the S&S, too...

aquagirl · 03-29-2008, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lauraleellbp

I've heard some reports of SMS and Turface also lowering the gH and kH- that would be a very cheap substrate option to try? I bet you could get enough for a shrimp tank pretty cheap in the S&S, too...

Thanks so much

. I will try doing a google search on Turface, I'm not familiar with that product. I'll also keep a check on the S&S.

**lauraleellbp** · 03-29-2008, 07:04 PM

Turface is extremely similar to SMS; fired clay used as a soil amendment for athletic fields. Also distributed by www.Lesco.com

aquagirl · 03-29-2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lauraleellbp

Turface is extremely similar to SMS; fired clay used as a soil amendment for athletic fields. Also distributed by www.Lesco.com

TY, I'll check it out.

**A Hill** · 03-29-2008, 09:02 PM

Peat should work as well.

Flora base can be cheap if you can get it locally, I got my bag for some trade in shrimp for my 10g redo.

Or you could get RO/Distilled water to use. This will probly be more costly in the end.

May I ask why you can not get ADA AS or something similar? Substrate is in my opinion one of the most important aspects of a crystal red shrimp tank (thats planted) along with filtration, and temperature. The hobby isn't the cheapest, but the initial investment will pay back over the long run I'll guarantee it.

-Andrew

aquagirl · 03-31-2008, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lauraleellbp

Turface is extremely similar to SMS; fired clay used as a soil amendment for athletic fields. Also distributed by www.Lesco.com

Thanks for your help, there is a store only 5 miles away that has SMS

aquagirl · 03-31-2008, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A Hill

May I ask why you can not get ADA AS or something similar? Substrate is in my opinion one of the most important aspects of a crystal red shrimp tank (thats planted) along with filtration, and temperature. The hobby isn't the cheapest, but the initial investment will pay back over the long run I'll guarantee it.
-Andrew

Hello Andrew,

For a 15g tank it would cost me $92.00 for the product and shipping.

I agree with you that substrate is is an important aspect of keeping CRS, especially when you have water perimeters like mine. I am planning on getting the SMS and setting up a test tank to see if the water perimeters are appropriate for the CRS. If it isn't than I will not buy any CRS until I can afford the ADA. Thanks for your input.

**macclellan** · 03-31-2008, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lauraleellbp

I've heard some reports of SMS and Turface also lowering the gH and kH-

My SMS is inert. No effect on hardness. Actually, I have a bunch of left over SMS+Flourite mix (black and red). $16 for a box full shipped. PM me if you want it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhavoc

(not eco or tahitian moon sand as they buffer water)

Some eco does this, at least initially. Mine is inert. Tahitian moon sand is inert (I have it too). What are you basing these claims on?

To the OP: If you've got RO water, plain old sand is cheap, effective, and looks great. If growing plants, some peat underneath helps a lot. $2 for sand (or free if you know where to look

) and $2 for peat. Can't beat that.

03-28-2008, 03:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
aquagirl Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2) Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 188	Any Subsutite for ADA Amazonia II Hello All, I would like to keep some CRS. I have had a few in the past and they did not do well in my water. I was told that if I use ADA Amazonia II, half RO water and half tap water that I would then have the ideal environment for CRS. The cost of buying it and then the shipping is more than I can afford . Does anyone know if there is a product that is compatible but less expensive? I can obtain most of the popular substraights locally which would save a bunch on shipping. Water Parameters GH- 7 KH- 3 PH- 7.4 out of tap __________________ The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them. S. King

03-28-2008, 05:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
frozenbarb Algae Grower uh oh... (View User Tanks) PTrader: (34) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: USA NY Posts: 1,941	You could try to search up Florabase. Its almost the same. But people have said it melts and could turn your tank into mud. But A Hill has it in his CBS 10g and its good. You should be able to find it locally. If not. Ordering ADA would be cheaper. __________________ Best Commerical ever =D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH6A4...eature=related

03-29-2008, 06:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
aquagirl Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2) Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 188	Thank you all for your help and suggestions. I think that I will try the half RO with half tap water in a tank with some small fish. I will monitor the water perimeters to make sure that they are appropriate for the CRS before adding any. __________________ The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them. S. King

03-29-2008, 06:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
lauraleellbp Fresh Fish Freak (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 4,249	I've heard some reports of SMS and Turface also lowering the gH and kH- that would be a very cheap substrate option to try? I bet you could get enough for a shrimp tank pretty cheap in the S&S, too... __________________ Laura Lee; 10gal planted RCS colony, 46gal FW community w/ el plasticos, 90gal FW planted in progress- see my journal at http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewto...p?f=82&t=23207

03-29-2008, 07:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
lauraleellbp Fresh Fish Freak (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 4,249	Turface is extremely similar to SMS; fired clay used as a soil amendment for athletic fields. Also distributed by www.Lesco.com __________________ Laura Lee; 10gal planted RCS colony, 46gal FW community w/ el plasticos, 90gal FW planted in progress- see my journal at http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewto...p?f=82&t=23207

03-28-2008, 05:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
mgamer20o0 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (17) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: cali Posts: 305	i know people who use peat in a holding bin then move it over when doing water changes.

03-28-2008, 07:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
limnidi Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (14) Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 79	If you are diligent about mixing half RO and tap for your water changes, you do not really need the special substrate. This method will keep your kh/gh low enough. I tried breeding CRS in a 5 gal with this method and was successful.

03-28-2008, 10:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
dhavoc Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13) Join Date: May 2006 Location: HI Posts: 306	you dont need the amazonia, it just make it easier as it softens the water. but you indicated you have access to RO anyway, so use any inert substrate (not eco or tahitian moon sand as they buffer water) and mix ro/tap and you should be fine. temp is also an issue, so keep them on the cool side (70-74F) and your good to go.

03-29-2008, 09:02 PM	#11 (permalink)
A Hill 7.5 hours later.. (View User Tanks) PTrader: (46) Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: RI,USA Posts: 4,050	Peat should work as well. Flora base can be cheap if you can get it locally, I got my bag for some trade in shrimp for my 10g redo. Or you could get RO/Distilled water to use. This will probly be more costly in the end. May I ask why you can not get ADA AS or something similar? Substrate is in my opinion one of the most important aspects of a crystal red shrimp tank (thats planted) along with filtration, and temperature. The hobby isn't the cheapest, but the initial investment will pay back over the long run I'll guarantee it. -Andrew __________________ Atlanta was fun, now I'll be around for a while hopefully! Yeah I have some moss/shrimp addiction problems. At least I'm not in the red because of them, yet. J'étais Fish Newb