ADA substrate, when is it worth it?

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bbortko

bbortko

Polypterus
MFK Member
Mar 3, 2010
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Northwest, Indiana
I've fallen in love with black substrate and contemplating switching my playsand for black. I have a 36g bowfront with an aquaticlife twin t5ho fixture, fixture is newish so these are my backbone. Currently have swords, crypts, tiger lotus, onion plant and anubias, all of which are thriving. I wouldn't mind replacing the anubias, or atleast most of them with some type short ground cover but haven't loked into that as of yet. Current ferts are excel, flourish, and root tabs but may switch to dry ferts when flourish is gone. With my current fixture I'm under the impression that CO2 wouldn't yield that great of return so I'm currently not interested but open to it in the future if I am convinced it is worth the cost when coupled with my lighting. So there is where I'm at and where I want to go, based on this are ADA substrates worth the cost or is black diamond a better option based on my needs?
 
I wouldn't spend the money for Ada products, but there are better options than sand. I like Eco complete, and anything is easy to cap with some black sand, which I do strongly prefer tahatian moon since it has a lot of blue and yellow mixed in and sparkles great.
 
That moon sand is extremely light and will.get kicked up.from your fish and will be in your filter just an fyi. I loved it and loved the look but it is far too fine for me

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In my planted tank learnings, the general answer I get from most is; never.
 
Did a quick look into the eco complete and say something about lava, does it have a low density or is it similar to sand? Just thinking in terms of how much I would need. I have Tahitian in my 5g planted betta and love the look but wasn't cheap, seems as though I can go plant specific substrate for about the same price.
 
Ya Eco complete is like little dirt BB and I had great luck growing crypts and swords in it. It's very dark brown a bit darker than aqua soil. I really liked it, more than flourite but I haven't used aqua soil. Bonus if you keep shrimp I swear they play with the balls of Eco complete
 
I have cherry shrimp and love them on black sand, should help my cories be more noticeable as well. I can always order 40# and add 1/2" of black sand down the line if I feel the need.

About 2 months ago my first 36 began to leak and the nightmare of netting 3-4 dozen shrimp and 3-4 dozen fish (half are endlers that were stow aways when I got the shrimp) is still fresh in my head, if I change substrate I want it to be right and be done with it.
 
I have about 40# of playsand, does that sound like enough of the eco?
 
I use ADA products and personally am happy with the results... Is it the cheapest option, definitely far from it, but i personally believe knowing what to use is key... I.e no need to ADA Co2 kits when there are much cheaper options that work just as well...


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