ADA Amazonia - How much do I need and WHERE?

10966 Views 10 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Jalseng, Jan 26, 2017

DirtDevilDTOM

Discussion Starter · Jan 16, 2017

Hi everyone,

I've been looking at ADA Amazonia for a while now and I think I am ready to buy some for an 80 gallon tank. How many bags would you recommend?

More importantly, WHERE can I get this stuff? I looked on the US page and see some distributors and retailers but nothing near Illinois that I can find. I saw plenty of posts that are older where it was difficult to find but due to its popularity, I would think that it would be easier to find now? I'd rather not pay some crazy shipping cost if I can avoid it - even if I have to drive a bit to pick it up.

As far as the leaching of ammonia for the first couple weeks (months?) - how often would you think I would need to change the water? I currently use the EI method and change 50% water every week and I was hoping this would be enough. I am NOT going to be using a dry method because this is a tank where I already have fish and I don't have another tank to put them in while it cycles.

I've been using eco complete the last few years and want to use something with a bit more oomph to grow my plants. Also, I've had some scratching issues with the eco complete.

Thanks!

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Axelrodi202

· #2 · Jan 16, 2017 (Edited)

Do NOT use EI with new Aquasoil. Years ago when I knew less than today I did this and it was an absolute algae farm. The whole idea of Aquasoil, especially when new, is that it contains plenty of nutrients so only minimal water supplementation (mainly of potassium and traces) is needed.

Aquasoil leaches a lot of ammonia/ammonium to help the plants acclimate and start growing vigorously and provide a source to kickstart the nitrifying bacteria. However too high levels are also bad for plant and microbial health so very frequent water changes are required, up to daily for the first week. This discusses proper Aquasoil usage as well as other aspects of ADA methodology and starting a new tank. Using this method I cycled my new AS tank in just 3 weeks, with essentially no algae (mainly some minor diatoms).

In my opinion the results are well worth the effort.

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micheljq

· #3 · Jan 17, 2017

There is a calculator here, if i may post this link.

Aqua Soil

Michel.

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Axelrodi202

· #4 · Jan 17, 2017

Totally missed the bag question. I used 5 x 9L bags on my 120 (4' x 2' footprint) and have maintained a pretty decent slope.

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DirtDevilDTOM

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jan 18, 2017

I remember dealing with an ammonia spike when putting a few fish in an emergency 10 gallon and having to change water daily. I wasn't planning on it being that frequent with an 80 gallon though. Do you think that daily 15% water changes would take care of things for a few weeks/months? I would hate to think of draining/replacing 40 gallons a day...

I tried looking up Axelrodi202's link but is appears to be dead.

If I did the daily water changes, I would stop EI during that time it seems. I have crypts, a java fern and a few different mosses that are not rooted. I wonder how fert decrease in the water column would affect their growth? I'm sure the crypts will die back for a while anyway but they'll grow back.

Hmmm, I'll need 5-6 bags. Now... where to get it? I've also been rethinking the decision to go with the Amazonia. I've ran into a few I liked just to find out they are tough to find. The LFS here in Chicago burb area only carry Flourite and EcoComplete and I might have to wait to get the quantity I need. Which is ok I guess since I still need to put in the new filter and wait for that to cycle and run for a while first. Then the substrate.

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Axelrodi202

· #6 · Jan 18, 2017

Sorry, I made an error in the original post with my link. I fixed it. Here it is:

http://plantednanotanks.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Plantednanotanks.com-eBook-1.pdf

And yes, the proper method is large frequent daily water changes for the first week (at least 50%). Then every other day for the second week, three changes during the third, and two during the fourth. I did this on my 120. ADG said they would do it even on a tank with a couple meters width and length.

There will be no low nutrients in the start. The Amazonia leaches plenty of ammonia, which plants utilize well (up to a certain point, before which it becomes toxic). The point of the water changes is to avoid the point of toxicity and also to prevent excess levels from encouraging algae. Your plants will be fine if not better for it. Cryptocoryne love Aquasoil. I started with three plantlets of Cryptocoryne affinis 'metallic red' in my tank and now I have a huge patch of the stuff.

Honestly for the cost of Flourite and EcoComplete I'd just go with Amazonia. The former two don't really do much besides having some CEC and providing a bit of trace nutrients.

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DirtDevilDTOM

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jan 19, 2017

I can probably handle the water changes, thanks for the schedule you used. Any idea where one can get 6 bags of Amazonia these days? Seems to be near impossible to find.

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Axelrodi202

· #8 · Jan 19, 2017

If there's no one local to you there are dealers like AFA, Aquatic Garden, and Monster Aquarium that should be able to ship. I believe ADA has a distributor locator on their English website.