Quote:
Originally Posted by the_r0ck
For ADA Aquasoil you should just use it as the top layer. If you need a boost, you can get ADA Powersoil as the bottom layer, but Aquasoil can be used on its own.
Yes, we would take out the plants out of the basket and then separate them out into smaller bunches to plant into the substrate.
For a planted tank, you don't really have to clean up the gravel, as your biofilter works, it will break it down into nitrates which will be taken up by the plants.
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Just want to make a comment regarding the use of ADA soil. Our apologies to The Rock that we have used your post, hope you don't mind.
ADA Aquasoil comes in Amazonia, Malaya and Africana. Each type of soil gives different water parameters, to help create the scape using plants from different river systems. Typically, they are rich in nutrients and hence the results are very eminent, usually plants grow fast.
However, the nutrients in the soil are only as much as the bag of soil can hold. Overtime, as the tank matures, while adding more new plants, will deplete the nutrients quickly.
That is to conclude that it will be incomplete to rely solely on the soils to keep the plants healthy.
The use of Powersand serves 3 purposes:
1. Provides an environment for the roots to breathe, as being granular, they allow water circulation to bring oxygen to the roots
2. Provides an environment for the bacteria colony to multiply, hence consistently providing the nutrients to the plants from the broken down fish waste and fish food.
3. Provides a barrier against the broken down soil on top, which had become mud, to "suffocate" or "strangle" the root systems. They are primarily pumice stones which are very hard.
Hence, powersand and soils are one substrate system, they are not optional items, if we want our substrate system to remain healthy over a period of time.
It is also true to acknowledge that there are tanks which have remained successful by using only ADA Aquasoil. However, one has to look at the type of scape and the type of plants being used.
Best regards
Thio