Soil...

[aquanaut]

Hi guys

Whats the best combination of soil for a 3 feet planted tank.I will have a base layer of JBL base fertiliser, then shd i go for normal lonestar gravel or shd i use some other substrate like powersand, or ADA soil or watever volcanic soil..


Which combination is the most cost-effective? Any comments...

[fleekk]

[quote:7075bbc261="aquanaut"]Hi guys

Whats the best combination of soil for a 3 feet planted tank.I will have a base layer of JBL base fertiliser, then shd i go for normal lonestar gravel or shd i use some other substrate like powersand, or ADA soil or watever volcanic soil..


Which combination is the most cost-effective? Any comments...[/quote:7075bbc261]

Hi Bro,

You can use normal gravel if you do not mind the look.

As for ADA soil, it is more acidic as compare to normal gravel. As for volcanic soil, there has been claim that you need not use fertiliser at all. But I do not have such experience yet.

If money is not the concern, you could try volcanic gravel, it looks ggod to me. As for ADA products, it is definitely will cost you a bomb.

As for me, I am using the normal gravel & it works just fine.

Hope that helps.

[Simon]

[quote:a0e1abf864="aquanaut"]Hi guys

Whats the best combination of soil for a 3 feet planted tank.I will have a base layer of JBL base fertiliser, then shd i go for normal lonestar gravel or shd i use some other substrate like powersand, or ADA soil or watever volcanic soil..


Which combination is the most cost-effective? Any comments...[/quote:a0e1abf864]

Since you have already a layer of JBL base fert. then either go for lonestar type gravel or more expensive gravels like dennerle

[chua]

To add, if you want to go for normal cheaper gravel, you must choose those of size 2-3mm.

Else, not good for the plants.

[Aeon]

I'm a loyal fan of ADA Aqua Soil and Power Sand. I save the money somewhere else

[aquanaut]

wow.. thx to all for the quick reply..

But i realised there are many variations of ADA substrate products?

Any one can explain more in depth ?

[Aeon]

All Aqua Soil is the similar, main difference is color.
Power Sand differs in grain size. Power Sand Special contains added bacteria.

[sotong80]

I have been using ADA aquasoil on top of JBL base fertilizer and I must say the result is good so far. However you really have to beware of fertilizer leakage when uprooting. Was thinking if it would be better if you could add a layer of lapis sand in between to prevent this problem? How about using latterite mix with sand in substitute for aqua sand? Anybody tried before?