Hey all,

Im looking to cutting some costs for my tank by adding a couple different types of substrates to my new 30 gal tank. From all the countless reviews, it seems ADA Aqua Soil Amazonia (both kinds) is the best. Of course you have to pay up for the goof stuff. I was hoping I could add some Fluval Plant and Shrimp Stratum on the bottom of the the ADA to save some $. Are there any significant downsides to this?

Thanks

Fluval stratum is just as good as aquasoil. They're both very similar - made up of dirt that's formed into small pellets that don't cloud the water. You're better off going with pure Fluval Statum because if you mix two substrates together, it can look ugly...Fluval Startum is jet black and has a kinda oily look while ADA aquasoil is black with a matte look...The colors and textures are not the exact same, therefore I don't suggest mixing for aesthetic reasons.