Azoo Plant Grower

1630 Views 11 Replies 5 Participants Last post by KFryman, Oct 2, 2012

KFryman

Discussion Starter · Sep 29, 2012 (Edited)

My 15 gallon tank has taken a beating with some very annoying algae. I have thought about it and I want to redo it, as I also want to change somethings around and add more hardscape. I want to use Azoo's substrate as I can get it locally at Neptune Aquatics. Though I have a few questions/concerns.

1. The biggest concern I have is how much ammonia does this stuff leach? I heard 2 ppm or less. The tank has 8 rummies, 5 bettas, 4 nerites, and 3 amanos, I can't have the fish out of the tank too long, but I will have a container for them while the tank is being torn down.
2. How should I go about cleaning the filter to prevent algae from coming back? It is an Ehiem Ecco rated for 35 gallons (smallest of the Eccos) Should I trash the sponges and get new ones or what? Same goes with the bioballs.
3. How many would I need for 1.5"-2.5-3"? Should I use powersand to help me with the desired depth without needing to buy 2 bags or am I better off with two bags? I may set up other tanks with the remaining.

Thanks for the help!

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KFryman

Discussion Starter · #2 · Sep 30, 2012

Any one have any input? I need to see what I need to do this so I can make sure I have enough money.

Instead of powersand I was thinking about just crushing up black lava rocks. Would this work? I saw another member, forgot the name, use that in his 12 gallon long to get more depth.

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Diana

· #3 · Sep 30, 2012

Never used the Azoo product, so I cannot comment about the ammonia.

Is this a standard 15 gallon tank? Footprint of a 20, just not so tall?
12" x 24" = 2 square feet. For every 1" deep you want the substrate you will need a bit less than .5 liter. (.39 of a liter is the way the math comes out)
Other ways it might be measured:
.5 quart
1 pint
.13 cubic foot (about 1/8 of a cubic foot)
If it is measured by weight, sand and gravel weigh about 100 lbs per cubic foot, so you would need about 12 lbs. if this material seems to be as heavy as sand and gravel. If this is a lighter material, I do not know how much you might need.

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Vincent Tran

· #4 · Sep 30, 2012

I am pretty sure that the Azoo plant grower is sized for a 15 gal. I am not sure about the ammonia spike but when I changed from gravel to the Azoo I put my fish and cherries in the next day and the cherries got berried..

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somewhatshocked

· #5 · Sep 30, 2012

Just a note: Azoo Plant Grower Bed leaches no ammonia.

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KFryman

Discussion Starter · #6 · Oct 1, 2012

Alright thanks! I now need much less money. Though I may buy another bag later on for other tanks. And yes it is a standard 15 gallon and the Azoo Plant Grow is a 12lb bag, so its perfect.

I heard that some people say it did while others say it didn't. Supposedly it is made in the same factory as ADA and it is harder and doesn't break down as fast. Though ADA might have more nutrients or added ferts. I'll just wait a day, let everything settle and then add fish.

Thanks again!

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Hoppy

· #7 · Oct 1, 2012

I would be cautions about replacing the substrate and filter media, then adding fish the next day. I suspect you will see a nitrogen cycle occur if you do that. If you keep the filter, no media change, no chance for it to dry out, and just replace the substrate, and use lots of plants, it should work out ok.

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KFryman

Discussion Starter · #8 · Oct 1, 2012

Yeah, I'm gonna try to get a lot of plants. The tank isn't really cycled, as I have so many plants the only time I get any nitrate readings is when I add some for the plants. I have cycled material from other tanks as well, so I will seed the tank. I am going to keep the bacteria going by adding a small amount of ammonia every so often. But I have access to a lot of seeded material from tanks at home and my sisters tank.

Should I get rid of the filter material or is there a way to keep the algae out of the tank without throwing out the media?

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Diana

· #9 · Oct 1, 2012

Unfortunately anything that kills the algae will also kill the beneficial bacteria.

Sterilizing the filter media may not really do all that much about keeping algae away, though, it drifts around all the time. It will find the tank again, sooner or later.

If you can share media from the other tanks that are well cycled, that will help, and adding as much plant material as you can will also help.

Feeding the bacteria that come from the shared media will increase the population, but just a day or two of ammonia is not going to grow much bacteria. I would skip this part and put the fish in the tank sooner. If you are OK with maintaining the fish outside the tank for a week or two, then it is worth working on the fishless cycle.

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KFryman

Discussion Starter · #10 · Oct 1, 2012

Space is vary limited with no room so it looks like I will have lots of water changes to do. So my best bet is to get rid of the filter material and just buy new material and use established bacteria from other tanks? Darn, gonna cost more money...

About $30 more, that is much more money for me as I am a high school student with no job...

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Diana

· #11 · Oct 2, 2012

Buy enough new media to put some new in each of the older, established filters that you are taking media out of.
In a well planted new tank with just some bacteria there should not be much of a cycle. The plants are a big part of the biofilter when they are growing well.

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KFryman

Discussion Starter · #12 · Oct 2, 2012

Okay, I will do. My 5.5 actually has quite a lot of biomedia for a small filter, but I can easily take half out, since there is only my betta in there and I have a pothos plant in the water as well. I will just have my sister give me half or something of hers and I will replace it.

Would it help at all if I added terrestrial plants in the beginning like pothos or anything else just to help keep ammonia down a bit.

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