Planting Soil alternative....HELP soil/GEX Soil/OF Soil

**diazman** · 11th Dec 2011, 05:35

My low tech tank is using HELP soil. Although im just planting some low requirement stem plants, doesnt look like much nutrients in the soil. Took atleast 4 days for my water wisteria to see a noticeable growth. But i put JBL 7 balls in it

**wongce** · 11th Dec 2011, 16:58

Originally Posted by diazman

My low tech tank is using HELP soil. Although im just planting some low requirement stem plants, doesnt look like much nutrients in the soil. Took atleast 4 days for my water wisteria to see a noticeable growth. But i put JBL 7 balls in it

thanks for sharing... saw some ANZ soil at LFS... same price as ADA...

**diazman** · 11th Dec 2011, 17:48

Originally Posted by wongce

thanks for sharing... saw some ANZ soil at LFS... same price as ADA...

i couldnt provide a good experience about the soil since there's the soil for the plant and shrimp type, i took the shrimp type HELP soil. Maybe i should change my substrate to ADA hehe

**wongce** · 11th Dec 2011, 18:00

Originally Posted by diazman

i couldnt provide a good experience about the soil since there's the soil for the plant and shrimp type, i took the shrimp type HELP soil. Maybe i should change my substrate to ADA hehe

Its like comparing Camaras...CANON,NIKON,OLYMPUS...LOL all are good cameras...

a lot of good feedback regarding ADA for plants... GEX is for fast clear abilities and their consistent shape... i saw some old post where ADA melted like mud... that's disgusting... still got time to research though... hahaha

i bought some RED ANZ soil for my current 2 feet tank... hehe hope it works well...

the cloudiness cleared within 3 hours...

**felix_fx2** · 11th Dec 2011, 18:05

Originally Posted by diazman

i couldnt provide a good experience about the soil since there's the soil for the plant and shrimp type, i took the shrimp type HELP soil. Maybe i should change my substrate to ADA hehe

Their very similar. The green pack vs Ada. Got some differences.

**Ecalyte** · 11th Dec 2011, 19:25

So.. Your scape will not go through an overhaul in 2 years?

And no, its not the same as comparing these camera models. Not all soils are good soil. For planted, ADA Aquasoil is the undisputed champion by a long mile for soils available in Singapore. Really, you get what you pay for.

There are things in this hobby that you should never ever try to save on. Soil is one of them. The moment you start to base your decision to buy soil on the price, the cost of trying to fix your disappointment will be much more than what you would have spent if you had spent that little bit more for soil.

Scapes will change, lifestock will die, replenish and change.. But your soil is always there. Why save on that?

**wongce** · 11th Dec 2011, 19:32

Originally Posted by Ecalyte

So.. Your scape will not go through an overhaul in 2 years?

And no, its not the same as comparing these camera models. Not all soils are good soil. For planted, ADA Aquasoil is the undisputed champion by a long mile for soils available in Singapore. Really, you get what you pay for.

There are things in this hobby that you should never ever try to save on. Soil is one of them. The moment you start to base your decision to buy soil on the price, the cost of trying to fix your disappointment will be much more than what you would have spent if you had spent that little bit more for soil.

Scapes will change, lifestock will die, replenish and change.. But your soil is always there. Why save on that?

point taken.....

**diazman** · 11th Dec 2011, 20:16

Originally Posted by wongce

Its like comparing Camaras...CANON,NIKON,OLYMPUS...LOL all are good cameras...

a lot of good feedback regarding ADA for plants... GEX is for fast clear abilities and their consistent shape... i saw some old post where ADA melted like mud... that's disgusting... still got time to research though... hahaha

i bought some RED ANZ soil for my current 2 feet tank... hehe hope it works well...

the cloudiness cleared within 3 hours...

The HELP soil didn't cloud at all during initial setup. the only thing i guess lacking was nutrient value in the soil.. but still it was fun setting up my first tank after a while

If you are wondering how the setup is..

As at 11 December 2011

Algae... hahaha

**wongce** · 11th Dec 2011, 21:41

I think I better go for Ada since price is almost same...better play safe as the tank is a 2-3 years investment..can't change soil after nutrient depleted... At most I top up with a layer of lapis sand to prevent the soil getting soggy n cloud the water when I move my deco or add plants..

**gid** · 14th Dec 2011, 13:21

Wait a min... HELP is the same as Advanced soil right? Blur liao, I'm new to this.

I am currently using Advanced (plants) for my 35cm low tech tank.

I will b setting up another 35cm low tech tank specially for shrimps, and I'm thinking of using either Advanced (plants) or Advanced (shrimps). But from the responses here, Advanced Soil does not seem popular. Why so?

Any better recommendation for a shrimp tank? Budget not an issue since I only need 3L.

**Neondagger** · 14th Dec 2011, 13:31

Some Header for you to search for. Many people in this forum use those soils.
Mosura Soil.Benibachi.Ada Amazonia.BorneoWild.
You have to search for the information of each soil yourself google it. As I only use ADA Amanzonia New before but most of those soil got good reputation for shrimps. Google it