Lifespan of ADA Amazonia aquasoil

[Jungle-mania]

How long can ADA amazonia soil be used? I have mine close to a year, should I change it?

[valice]

Your reason for changing?
Mushy soil or poor plant growth?

[Jungle-mania]

I am getting alot of green hair algae, I have upped my fert dosage, added 30+ shrimps, 2 young SAE and 2 otos, but the algae growth persists. I beginning to suspect that the fert found in the soil is beginning to lose its strength and the release is becoming more erratic, leading to the algae bloom. Again, I could be wrong, but I do get negative feedback on the use of ADA soil when it comes to fert regime.

[valice]

For your hair algae problem, you have to erradicate any hair algae you have first, else they will remain.

Then water change, up your CO2 (not fert), go slow on your fertilisation regime... Your ADA aquasoil fert should have no effect on algae.

You might want to post your current tank specification so that proper correction could be done...

I had the same problem as you before. Did a massive rescape, removed infested plants, up the CO2 till I get pearling within 3hours of lights on... Now is explosive plant growth, abit of hair algae in places where there was the hair algae... But nothing serious...

What negative feedback did you get from people using ADA soil and their fert regime?

[PeterGwee]

Poor nutrients/CO2 seems to induce it and the algae will hang on and grow well even if you correct the conditions later. Removal as valice has pointed out is the only way and requires a bit of effort on your part. Focus on what makes the plant grow well and keep the tank clean and you should do fine.

Regards,
Peter Gwee

[Jungle-mania]

What negative feedback did you get from people using ADA soil and their fert regime?

Number of people have experienced varying decrease rates of the nutrient level and the gradual change in ph becomes less. I guess this is to be expected, but the varying effect among people can be from 1 year to 4 years.

regarding the algae, can I use a round head bristlebrush and twirl them out? Is there anyway to totally eradicate it?

[valice]

That's the reason why ADA has this thing called PowerSoil... Aquasoil's nutrient is limited... It provides the initial boom and then powersoil is needed to take over the nutrient supply...

Yup, you can... But seriously, if the algae is a big mess, I personally will choose to remove the plant... Easier...