New to Apistos

[jssl]

Hi all,

I wanted to enquire the community what are te type and brand of substrate that I can buy locally for apistos as well as the type of lighting for these dwarf cichlids.

I am in the process of decom my Tropheus and switching to apistos.

Please enlighten and help.

Thank you.

[doppelbanddwarf]

Substrate can be anything from fine inert sand to ADA aquasoil. Basically you don't want a substrate that raises the pH of the water. Lighting wise apistos prefer low light but a planted setup is just as good.

[sheng]

Hope this help :

Personal Basic Tips & Setup for keeping South American Dwarf Cichlids

[jssl]

Hi Andrew & ChongYu,

Many thanks for the valuable information.

1) Is Dennerle Soil similar to ADA Aqua Soil?
2) I would like to know more about the quartz mentioned by Andrew. Where can I buy it and with the layer of quartz, we don't have to place another layer of sand or soil substrate?
3) Amtra Oak bark - where can i buy it and how to adminster

Between, I am presently having a Juwel Rekord aquarium. Any suggestion on the type of lighting?

Many thanks.

regards

[genes]

Dennerle soil is not soil. Its an inert colored quartz gravel/substrate. ADA aquasoil is a mud based substrate. I would suggest using ADA aquasoil so you do not have to bother too much about reducing the pH of the tank with inert substrates in the long run. And you do not need to buy any other gravel to cover the aquasoil.

See here for more information.
http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...ad.php?t=27765

For the oak bark, what is your purpose of using. If for a background, you have to silicon it to the tank because it will float and make sure no fishes can swim to the back as its a death trap...

For lightings, if you are not doing a high maintenance planted tank. The wattage doesn't matter. I used a normal fluorescent lamp for my apisto tanks with moss, java ferns and nanas.

[jssl]

Hi all,

Just purchased 9 litres of ADA Aquasoil from YR618. Now my concern is the soil turning "muddy" after certain time. I gathered as long as I do not disturb the soil too much or do too much rescaping, it should be alright.
Btw, how do aquarists out there remove the mud. Can we just siphoned it out?

[huhengyi1986]

hi if i am not wrong u just rinse the soil do not wash them like normal plastic subtract if not the soil will break down. when it breaks down it means time to change new soil. Thats what i learnt from biotope hope the info helps.

[ahkiatz]

hi if i am not wrong u just rinse the soil do not wash them like normal plastic subtract if not the soil will break down. when it breaks down it means time to change new soil. Thats what i learnt from biotope hope the info helps.

What i know is don't wash the soil at all. Just pour into the tank. Which is correct?

[stormhawk]

That is correct. However as you fill the tank, occasionally some particles like bits of wood, mud, etc. might float out to the surface. The muddy effect by the ADA soil occurs as it ages over time. It will probably compact slowly. Sometimes they are just bits of gravel coated with the "mud" or whatever material ADA uses to make these Aquasoil products.

[jssl]

so as the soil ages over time, ie turns muddy, we basically just siphoned it out? Am I right?

btw, auntie from YR618 told me not to wash the soil. Just place it in the tank and fills it up with water.

[sheng]

Dont have to wash before use, just use it direct.
Just leave it when it break down, dont siphoned as it break down.

so as the soil ages over time, ie turns muddy, we basically just siphoned it out? Am I right?

btw, auntie from YR618 told me not to wash the soil. Just place it in the tank and fills it up with water.

[jssl]

So any advise on how to remove the "mud" when the soil breaks down

[sheng]

If you really worry about the "mud", i do suggest you to use lapis sand .

Trying to remove the mud may cause a "storm" in your tank

So any advise on how to remove the "mud" when the soil breaks down

[Tony]

You can slowly top it up with new soil

[jssl]

Thanks guys for all the valuable info.

I will post some photos when my tank is up.

Cheers!

[jssl]

Hi all, managed to set up my tank yesterday and realized the following:
1)how long does it takes for the cloudiness to settle down?
2) is my 2215 too strong current for my 2ft tank?

[jssl]

Cloudiness finally settled down after about 18 hrs with some adjustments made to my 2215 pressure and suction end.
May I ask during water change regime, do we need to use gravel siphoning on the aquasoil, similar to those whereby only fine particles were siphoned out leaving those bigger particles to settle down.
OR we just basically siphoned out the water.

[genes]

There is no need to siphone the soil unecessarily so all you need to do now is change water. Also, because they are mub based gravel, when you siphone to much, you may get cloudy water again. But that can be improved to large water changes after siphoning.

[jssl]

ok, I got it. thanks.

[Royston]

so as the soil ages over time, ie turns muddy, we basically just siphoned it out? Am I right?

btw, auntie from YR618 told me not to wash the soil. Just place it in the tank and fills it up with water.

ADA amz 2 no need to wash amz 1 need to wash once.