Substrate Buffering

[DETAquarium]

Hey ShrimpSpot!

 

I wanted everyone's opinion on the buffering longevity of the substrate you currently use or have used. I originally always used ADA Amazonia, which seemed to buffer extremely well for a long period of time, normally at least 2 years.

 

Recently I noticed many of the newer or subpar substrates seem to lose their buffering ability much sooner, some even exhausted over the course of a year. 

 

This most certainly could be because I use RODI water and allow the substrate to buffer the PH back down. BUT that is what I have always done whether I used ADA or some other soil. Now that I need to replace 4 of my shrimp tanks substrate because of the exhaustion of substrate I have felt I need to revisit ADA Amazonia.

 

What are your thoughts, and experiences?

 

Thank you!

 

DETAquarium

[EricM]

I think 18months - 2 yrs is pretty standard expectation for soil life when you only use RO water. Which is the right way to do it. 

 

Which soil are you replacing? 

 

We have a couple SL-Aqua Nature Soil tanks well into that range now with no signs of the PH rising. I had decent luck with controsoil, tank was around 14months before I took it down to make room for more SL tanks. 

 

 

[DETAquarium]

Controsoil has lasted a year or just over. Same results when I used UP Aquasand in the past.

[Brolly33]

Do you add KH when remineralizing? I would think high KH would "wear out" soil buffering faster, but I have not done the experiment.


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[DETAquarium]

No KH added.

[Soothing Shrimp]

I'm using UP aquasand, and it has been doing well for 3+ years.  Of course, it has no nutrients for plants.

[Uriel RT]

for me Controsoil ran out of at around 11 Months, was not happy to lose shrimp because of that PH spike.