Ada Aquasoil....is It Supposed To Do This?

[nickboden]

No probs. It's what I always do now when planting a new tank. I can't bear cloudy water.

Aquasoil is okay to use on it's own with nothing underneath or gravel on top ?

 

[George Farmer]

Don't top it with gravel. It's OK on its own. ADA recommend putting a layer of ADA Power Sand down first, then topping with Aqua Soil.

 

[Graeme Edwards]

Iv used the Aqua soil Malay Normal type twice and my water stayed clear through out. Maybe you were unwittingly abit heavy handed. You should wait until you have all hard scape materials and a defined plant list before even considering adding water. I sympathies with your eagerness to get started but you may have caused your self more problems than necessary.
Patients is a virtue friend.

 

[three-fingers]

True . I never thought it would do this, and i was trying to get it done bit by bit starting with the substrate. I guess i should have waited and done it all at once .
I'll know for next time though...and its not the end of the world i suppose.

 

[Graeme Edwards]

The best way to learn is from our own mistakes, unfortunatly more painful but worth while.

 

[Underwurlde]

But the basic question remains....

...It should not be doing that. Should it

 

[three-fingers]

I've been reading up about clouding with aquasoil on other forums and there are a few people experianceing the same problems as me.
From this thread and lots of others i've deducted that it varies greatly. Alot of people say they have had no problems and the aquasoil didnt even come with dust or debris in it, while most people said it clouded the water a little bit but nothing really terrible. A few people had problems like me, one person even said it clouded the water like mine for weeks.
In my bag of aquasoil i did have loads of dust and other debris like dried grass blades and such (i assumed it was meant to be like that), so i think i was just unlucky in the bag i got.
One things for certain though, my tank wouldent be as bad as it is now if i had taken time and thought about my actions before making them .
I'll be able to fix it though, and i'm sure it will turn out to be an exellant substrate.

 

[nickboden]

Don't top it with gravel. It's OK on its own. ADA recommend putting a layer of ADA Power Sand down first, then topping with Aqua Soil.

Maybe I should start a new thread ?

I want to set up a Tropica Aquacube as my first nano planted tank so unsure whether to now order Power Sand (which grade ?) or just go with the Aquasoil Malaya. I was going to use Tropica ferts but reading threads on here and Aqua Essentials about ADA tanks, I'm unsure what to do next !

 

[Underwurlde]

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=169301

In essence, don't bother with power sand, rather a thin dusting of peat with some mulm.....

Andy

[edit]: Bad link now put right. Thanks GF...

 

[George Farmer]

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=16930

In essence, don't bother with power sand, rather a thin dusting of peat with some mulm.....

Andy

I think you've posted the wrong link there Andy.

Power Sand is useful for those that don't wish to EI or bother too much with NP dosing.

 

[Underwurlde]

Doh! Thanks GF. A '1' fell of the end..... edited it now...

It's been a long week...
If any of you are considering a career in Electronics Engineering, DON'T........

Cheers,

Andy