ADA amazonia soil

[leeruisheng]

Hi there, I'm going to setup a tank with ADA amazonia soil but have some doubts and thus hope users of ADA soil will provide me with comments. I intend to use a 9l pack for a 2ft tank as recommended and would like to know what's the pH level. Thanks.

[valice]

You want to use it for a planted tank or just for keeping the pH low?
Initial setup, your pH will be below 6. In the region of 5.8. Subsequent water changes and stablisation will bring the pH into the region of 6.4.

[leeruisheng]

Not so heavily planted crs tank. How long will it get to 6.4? or does it depends on the frequencies of water changes? was actually looking for used ADA soil but cant find good deal.

[Aquaculture]

Valice is spot-on for the ph level. Mine took about a month or about 4 WC, each time about 50% for the ph to reach 6.4. After which the ph stays that level....

What I'm curious is. When the ada starts to breakdown, what would the ph be? I'm a new user, therefore haven't reach that stage yet.

[leeruisheng]

So that means after a month with about 4wc, the pH will maintain at 6.4?

What's your tank size and how many litres of ADA soil did you used?
Cause can't base on your records if you're using different tank soil ratio.

[Aquaculture]

Mine is a 422. Used 6 X 9L of pure Amazonia soil.... Personally I like my substrate to be a little thick. Probably you may like to a thinner layer. Hope this information helps bro

[silane]

Hi there, I'm going to setup a tank with ADA amazonia soil but have some doubts and thus hope users of ADA soil will provide me with comments. I intend to use a 9l pack for a 2ft tank as recommended and would like to know what's the pH level. Thanks.

Amonzonia in some of the shops are second generation and that may have some different to previous batches. So check it carefully before putting in CRS.

[leeruisheng]

Mine is a 422. Used 6 X 9L of pure Amazonia soil.... Personally I like my substrate to be a little thick. Probably you may like to a thinner layer. Hope this information helps bro

Thanks for the info. Ok so your pH is maintain at 6.4 after one month. Then for the 2nd month and consecutive months, how often do you wc? Cause I'm afraid that maybe pH of 6.4 is achieved due to the continuous wc even after the 1st month. And if I don't change water at least 4 times/month, the pH will not be maintain but dropped. Or is your case just major water change for the 1st month and then for the consecutive months probably wc once/month and the pH of 6.4 is maintain. Please advice. Thanks.

[leeruisheng]

Amonzonia in some of the shops are second generation and that may have some different to previous batches. So check it carefully before putting in CRS.

How do you differentiate them between the batches? And what are the differences in chemistry terms besides the 2nd generation does not cause browning?

You used ADA soil right? Care to share some advices and tips? Much appreciated.

[Aquaculture]

I only did the 50% change for the 1st month, 1 wc a week. Till date, I'm using ADA for about approximately 6 to 7 weeks. After the 1st month, I became lazy..... damn siong (tired) changing 50%..numerous pails of water I started changing only about 20% on my 5th week, about 8 pails of water. Checked my ph and it still reads 6.4 for the the 6th week too.

Just passed my tester to a friend last week for him to test his new tank. So can't update you on the latest reading but I would presume it to be about that range as there are no casualities or wierd behavious so far....

[leeruisheng]

Thanks alot aquaculture.

To valice:
This is quite strange. Since ADA soil will register a ph of about 6.4 after a month's time, how do apistogrammas keepers when using ADA soil maintain the low ph?

[valice]

But isn't 6.4 acidic?
Unless you have fishes who really needs the less than 5 or 6, then additional peat will be needed...

[StanChung]

Top up a little and your ph will be stable over a long time.

ADA soil disintegrates/dissolves and is helped by bacteria/other organisms that consume it to constantly produce supply of nutrients. That's it's advantage over inert sand.

[leeruisheng]

But isn't 6.4 acidic?
Unless you have fishes who really needs the less than 5 or 6, then additional peat will be needed...

Ok. Cause I thought you guys keep them in pH range of 5 to 5.5.

Top up a little a you ph will be stable over a long time.

ADA soil disintegrates/dissolves and is helped by bacteria/other organisms that consume it to constantly produce supply of nutrients. That's it's advantage over inert sand.

If I do not top up over time, any ideal what's the highest pH it will reach and probably in how many years time?

[valice]

I don't, since mine are kept in planted tanks.
Only my amazonian tank is at below 6 with added peat in the filter.

[leeruisheng]

Ok then thanks for all the advices. Think will create a new thread for my new tank coming soon.