Soil + PS Special (and/or) APT Start (or) lava rock?

[Gilles]

I am planning the setup of a new soil-based tank. I have never used substrate additives before. I have used ADA soil, plain sand, Tropica soil etc. I am thinking on trying additives in my new tank, this will be a high-lit tank (45cm wide, lit with a Chihiros RGB II pro - dimmed off course). Livestock will primarily be shrimp, plants will be mostly carpeting plants with some stem plants in the back. Dosing will be done on a lean-basis to keep the reds and filtration will be done by a Oase Biomaster 2 600 thermo, filled with Seachem Matrix & Purigen. CO2 will off course also be added and (pH) is computer controlled.

So, building up the substrate.. I see several options:

1. Just the soil
2. ADA PS special + soil
3. ADA PS special + APT start + soil
4. Crushed lavarock (like for example JBL PROSCAPE VOLCANO MINERAL) + APT start + soil

Regarding option 3. I see several people, when using power sand special, still add bacter 100 etc. So my thought process was; why not use a different brand like APT start.
Regarding option 4. ADA PS special is still "just rocks" with additives. Wouldn't crushed lava rock with additives have the same effect?

Preferably based on own experience, i would like to hear your thoughts.

 

[Wookii]

Neither Bacter 100 nor APT start are worth the bottle they're sold in.

Do you have any tanks running currently? Far and away the best bacterial starter you can use in a new tank is the bacterial mulm from one of your existing filters. If its a canister filter for example, take all the media out, and pour the entire remaining contents into a bucket, squeeze out any sponges directly into the bucket also.

You now have a rich bacterial soup of precisely the correct micro-organisms that you want to establish in your new tank (because they've already established naturally in your existing tank). Pour the entire contents over your substrate and let it soak in whilst you add your plants etc, and then fill the tank as normal and turn your new filter on. Don't worry if there is a load of filter mulm floating around in your tank - it will soon disappear - some will help inoculate your hardscape, whilst the rest gets sucked into your new filter helping to colonise the media within that.

If you don't have an existing filter yourself, ask a friend if you can 'clean' theirs, or failing that ask your LFS if they can squeeze some of their filter sponges into your bucket for you.

 

[Gilles]

You now have a rich bacterial soup of precisely the correct micro-organisms that you want to establish in your new tank (because they've already established naturally in your existing tank). Pour the entire contents over your substrate and let it soak in whilst you add your plants etc, and then fill the tank as normal and turn your new filter on. Don't worry if there is a load of filter mulm floating around in your tank - it will soon disappear - some will help inoculate your hardscape, whilst the rest gets sucked into your new filter helping to colonise the media within that.

Good advice! So you would choose for option 5 🙂

Just crushed lavarock and soil + filter mum from existing filter.

 

[Wookii]

When you say 'soil' are you referring to aquasoil (e.g Tropica etc), and not a 'dirtied tank' with a sub-layer of compost or similar?

If so, you don't technically need any lava rock unless you are looking to save some money on the cost of the aquasoil by building up higher rear regions of the tank with the lava rock. If you are looking to raise those rear areas using lava rock, I'd recommend putting it in mesh bags to reduce slippage over time, and prevent it migrating up through the aquasoil. If you are not going particularly high at the rear, then sometimes just using the aquasoil on its own is easier.

Either way though, soaking with the filter mulm will give you much more rapid microbial maturation.

 

[Little]

Regarding option 4. ADA PS special is still "just rocks" with additives.

I used it before. It also has some organics. It looked like they used ADA Bio Rio (pumice sprinkled with the three start up ADA additives) with some pond soil type organics mixed in. I had good success with it but I agree you could do it homemade for cheaper … if you’re inclined to.

I’m lazy. Much like fertiliser, I don’t want to think about it, I value my limited thinking capacity more than the cost of these (all be it overpriced) products.

(Edit: I do agree that muck from an old filter is probably the best. It’s what I’m using for my next tank. Just wanted to give my experience of ADA powersand)

 

[Gilles]

When you say 'soil' are you referring to aquasoil (e.g Tropica etc), and not a 'dirtied tank' with a sub-layer of compost or similar?

Yes that is correct, i am referring to a clay-baked aquasoil (in my case Chihiros Aqua Soil)

If so, you don't technically need any lava rock unless you are looking to save some money on the cost of the aquasoil by building up higher rear regions of the tank with the lava rock. If you are looking to raise those rear areas using lava rock, I'd recommend putting it in mesh bags to reduce slippage over time, and prevent it migrating up through the aquasoil. If you are not going particularly high at the rear, then sometimes just using the aquasoil on its own is easier.

Thanx, i will consider this.

Either way though, soaking with the filter mulm will give you much more rapid microbial maturation.

Got it, thnx!