Can differnet aquasoils be layered?

[hitmanx]

Can amazonia be used as a nutrient rich base layer like a walstad method tank with Malaya or Africana as a cap? This is assuming I wouldnt be uprooting plants in this long term setup that often or at all...

In my current build which has 10sqft of substrate, I'm going to need 5-8 bags of aquasoil, depending on depth, so I want to get this right with such an investment. It's going to be a shallow, but wide riparium (48x30x12h), with crypts, e. Tenelus, lileopsis and similar species amonst manzanita "roots" and stumps, so there will be mostly root feeders, and I may be adding some e. Cordifolius swords to be grown emersed as well

Now, I've been very happy with ADA Malaya for a long term low tech setup and I like the bright colour. Growth is slower though compared to amazonia. But it will brighten up the underwater tank portion which is usually pretty dark in a riparium.

I have a couple bags of amazonia now and I was thinking about using them as a base layer with another 3 or 4 bags of Malaya on top...

 

[alto]

sure 🙂
There may be some mixing but if you're diligent (the polite term) you can push the odd bits backs down 😉

If you're planning longterm, you might also add a layer such as Tropica Growth Substrate - I don't know how ADA Power Sand compares (think it's just for aeration/raising the substrate height rather than a nutrient dense layer).

Tank sounds awesome - please post a photo journal if you can.

 

[hitmanx]

I will definitely be starting a journal 🙂

I guess my question is less about aesthetics and more about the Malaya layer stopping flow down into the amazonia layer... It just seems that the Malaya soil that I've used forms a more solid clay like layer.

Could the redox in the amazonia layer be of concern? Anaerobic conditions? or am I worrying about nothing as the deepest section of the soils might only be 4 to 5inches?

Im hoping the amazonia will just act like a nutritional layer that the roots will head down to like a walstad method tank...

 

[alto]

Plant roots tend to limit aerobic conditions (developing) - you can also physically poke through the layer with pincettes etc ... but I'd be surprised if the Malaya was sufficient to block all water movement
- adding in the Power Sand should also promote "circulation"

 

[hitmanx]

Sounds good, but now the question: is it worth it in the long run? Will it make a difference in plant growth having that nutritious layer? Will the pros outweight the cons of possible aesthetic issues?

Like I said the Malaya has been great in my low tech but dispite dry ferts, growth is significantly slower than amazonia for root feeders. Like anubias slow ...

I haven't really deleved too deep into research into powersand, but I have heard from others that its kind of a gimmick...

 

[alto]

Having looked at the price for Power Sand 😱 (I used if some years ago & it was decidedly less costly) ... forget the PS
- add in some Tropica Growth Substrate or similar instead for some longer term plant support, plant roots will get there 🙂

Depending on how long term the tank, you may want to add root capsules at some point as well.

 

[hitmanx]

I have thought about using a sprinkling of peatmoss and osomocote fertz before laying down the aquasoils as I have heard good things about that... I'm not sure I have access to tropical growth substrate over here in Canada... It's hard enough getting tropica plants

I forgot to clarify that the tank is actually 120x76x30cm... I would like to stretch this tank over 2 years or more... My current nano with ada Malaya is almost 2 years old with only a couple water changes and is doing very well