ADA Aqua Soil common misconception

[ianiwane]

The main ingredient in AS is not peat its clay. I believe there is peat in the powersand. Is that what you are refering to? Aquasoil will lower your KH. I believe IBN (Eric) has said out of tap his KH is 9 and the aquasoil/powersand lowers it to about 2. Correct me if I am wrong Eric. With that being said lowering the KH is not a problem. Plants will love it and your fish will do fine in a KH of 2.

[Betowess]

Boy, this sounds like the opposite of some recent Ecocomplete I used in a Q. Tank. Brand new stuff and the water was a solid 6.6ph when I put it in there. One week later it was at 8.1ph when I got around to checking. That with a brand new probe on a pHep4. Tossed it all out in the back yard. I'm done with Caribsea.

[ianiwane]

The solution in eco raises the KH/GH in you tank initially. After a few water changes it stops doing that. You should have given it more time, it would have leveled out.

[jsenske]

Originally Posted by brad

I'm assuming it's effects on ph are also time limited right?

What I find is that pH lower somewhat over time naturally in a my tanks. So, any gradual change in the pH lowering effects seem to be offset by a natural lowering of the pH from the maturation of the tank. It's that immediate effect of lower pH, though, that helps get the plants settle in and take off faster-- right away they are in great and preferred conditions.
Start-up had always been the the most perilous time for me. So the advantage of having the the substrate contribute to the initial stability/establishment of desired parameters for most plants is a really helpful thing.

[plantbrain]

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.

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

[Betowess]

Originally Posted by ianiwane

The solution in eco raises the KH/GH in you tank initially. After a few water changes it stops doing that. You should have given it more time, it would have leveled out.

Well, I have experienced 180 lbs of corrupted Eco with a raised GH, KH, & pH Which stayed off the charts for many months, and this was before the phosphate buffer "cure" which was also recalled. The Eco I threw out was part of a replacement batch Caribsea sent me. I don't trust the company anymore. I'll try the AS or possibly Florabase substrate next. Or revert to plain gravel and some root tabs or Flourite again. But I'm done with Ecocomplete.

[Ibn]

That's correct there, Ian. KH out of the tap is quite high and once it's in the tank, it drops considerably. Also, I used to change the water twice a week and at each testing observed the same effects.

[coco9465]

What is ADA and where to buy this ADA stuff?

It will better if some of you experienced aquascapers give more details (or links) about ADA, so a newbie like me can understand "what? where?"

[epicfish]

ADA = Aqua Design Amano.

Use search at the top and put in ADA. You'll come across a hundred or so threads on it.

It's a line of aquarium products....their most popular product is probably their AquaSoil.

Oh, and you posted in a thread that's over a year old.

[tazcrash69]

As far as where to buy, if you can't find it locally (only seen it local 1 time myself).
Try Jeff at ADG. Drop him a line, very nice guy, very helpful.

[garuf]

ive heard alot about ada ive spent many an evening on here but i realy cant justify the cost when tropica is half the price for 3times as much. which system is the best without all the ada hype.
whos tried tropica? is it as good as ada?

[eklikewhoa]

I keep trying to tell everyone that the price is not crazy expensive compared to other substrates and there was one that Aquasoil was actually cheaper then....

[garuf]

mmm i guess but its still expencive here in the uk anyway to do it properly for a 10gall like mine would cost £40 where as the tropica does 3 ten gall tanks and its £17 in comparison i understand its good but you know i just cant help thinking its all hype, think apple ipod theyre good put your paying for a lifestyle/fashion. sorry if this offends anyone but its hard not to see it that way.

[ianiwane]

Then don't get it. I don't think people care what you decide to get. You are the one that is going to use it.

[Jason Baliban]

There are products from ADA that are completely a rip off, and there are things that are absolutely amazing.

AS is one that is amazing.

jB