The thing with buffered substrates, in this case ada aquasoil, they are made to buffer and keep your ph at 6.6. KH isn't needed at all. I have a kh of 0 and use co2 with no issues whatsoever. Ph won't crash even when using co2 because the substrate is keeping your ph stable. Your ph readings with co2 will still read lower as it would, but will climb right back to 6.6 after the co2 has been off for a few hours. If you're not worried about the buffering capacity running out, that's ok. But, you just need to keep in mind what species you're keeping and what parameters they need. For example, if you were keeping taiwan bee shrimp or crystal reds, who like a ph between 5.5 and 6.7...you'd really want to watch for substrate expiration and plan for setting up a new ada tank to cycle, ready to transfer the shrimp. Ada lasts about 2 years, but I've seen people reported they got 7 months due to using tap vs RO. If you think about it, that's some really expensive substrate to have it stop working so quickly.
Newly setup 22 long planted concerns
- Thread starter Barber Mike
- Start date
I hear you Jennifer G.! That's why I haven't gone ADA in a big tank. The cost vs advantages just isn't there for me...maybe yet, maybe not ever. Too many issues are possible & I'm not a good water tester 
Thank you both for the great advice.
Fishorama: here is a link to the rainbow frost I purchased — https://buceplant.com/products/rainbow-frost?variant=20177210561
My GH was around 11 out of the tap I believe.
And thank you for clearing up my understanding on the aqua soil. I’m starting to wish I just went with the pool filter sand I would usually use! I’m not worried about the buffering once the aqua soil “expires” either. Reason 2 I’m regretting the high dollar dirt. I don’t have intentions of keeping any delicate inverts, mainly a school of small tetra or some raspbora or danio. Maybe some corys and a pair of Otto cats for maintenance.
I’ve been reminding myself to just focus on my water changes and establish my good bacteria. I’m still a ways away from fish.
Also, a little off topic, my aquarium injection valve on my dual valve rises and falls between 40 and 30ppm rapidly. Some of my plants are pearling, and they have all grown and greened/reddened up a bit, but from what I’ve found you want a steady injection rate. Any idea what could be causing this action on my readout?
Here’s what I mean:
Thanks to all - water change time for me
Fishorama: here is a link to the rainbow frost I purchased — https://buceplant.com/products/rainbow-frost?variant=20177210561
My GH was around 11 out of the tap I believe.
And thank you for clearing up my understanding on the aqua soil. I’m starting to wish I just went with the pool filter sand I would usually use! I’m not worried about the buffering once the aqua soil “expires” either. Reason 2 I’m regretting the high dollar dirt. I don’t have intentions of keeping any delicate inverts, mainly a school of small tetra or some raspbora or danio. Maybe some corys and a pair of Otto cats for maintenance.
I’ve been reminding myself to just focus on my water changes and establish my good bacteria. I’m still a ways away from fish.
Also, a little off topic, my aquarium injection valve on my dual valve rises and falls between 40 and 30ppm rapidly. Some of my plants are pearling, and they have all grown and greened/reddened up a bit, but from what I’ve found you want a steady injection rate. Any idea what could be causing this action on my readout?
Here’s what I mean:
Thanks to all - water change time for me
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Hmm, that is peculiar. I have an Aquatek mini for a paintball canister and the needle valve is complete garbage and failed. Never again. Waiting on GLA to come out with their new mini which I'll be adding some manifolds to provide co2 to several tanks.
If I were you, I would check for any leaks. If you can't feel anything, perhaps use the soapy water test and check for bubbles. If you purchased new, are you still on the warranty? I'd give Aquatek a call and perhaps email them your video. Might be a faulty unit. The gauge that is fluctuating is the working pressure coming out of the tank into the regulator.
Also, at what point was the video taken? Did the co2 just come on? How long had it been running? Does it always do this from the moment it turns on to the moment it shuts off? I'm assuming you have a check valve somewhere? What kind of airline hose are you using?
Great questions Jen. G.! I was given, but haven't set up, a basic co2 system, so I'm clueless...but I'd like to learn.
It's totally worth trying out. The plant growth really is noticeable. I'd advise getting a drop checker and fill it with some ph reagent indicator solution. The color will change to give you a visual to let you know if you have too much, too little, or just the right amount of co2 running in your tank. Helps to prevent gassing your fish
Thanks for the reply Jen. I’ll have to see if there are any leaks today during maintenance. I bought it new on eBay in March but just got everything hooked up 2 weeks ago or so. There’s a check valve built in to the bubble counter (plastic aquatek on that came with it). The tubing is the black CO2 grade also from aquatek. A better quality bubble counter arrives today - it’s got screw down fasteners on either side of it where the aquatek BC doesn’t. I’ve got a brass check valve I I’ll install above the solonied if the new BC doesn’t have one (I forget). And yes, it seems to fluctuate as in the video from power on to power off.
Fishorama- Jen is right about the plant growth - I’ve already achieved significant growth in this short period w my first attempt at CO2 injection. As you can see it comes with a little fiddling but once I hopefully get on the right track it will be well worth it
Fishorama- Jen is right about the plant growth - I’ve already achieved significant growth in this short period w my first attempt at CO2 injection. As you can see it comes with a little fiddling but once I hopefully get on the right track it will be well worth it
I'm not a fan of the plastic bubble counter either. I didn't fully trust it so I picked up a diffuser with a check valve in it both for back up/peace of mind, and I felt it took forever to push the water out of the tubing delaying the co2 bubbles from actually diffusing
Here's what you can look forward to. Pictured is day 1 of planting and at the 3 month mark
Day 1:
Month 3:
As you can see, the growth is explosive!! This is my tiny 10 gallon Aqueon I got for 10 bucks at the dollar per gallon sale! 1 very spoiled betta fish is currently in here...somewhere...LOL!
Day 1:
Month 3:
As you can see, the growth is explosive!! This is my tiny 10 gallon Aqueon I got for 10 bucks at the dollar per gallon sale! 1 very spoiled betta fish is currently in here...somewhere...LOL!
Here's what you can look forward to. Pictured is day 1 of planting and at the 3 month mark
Day 1:
View attachment 223177
Month 3:
View attachment 223178
As you can see, the growth is explosive!! This is my tiny 10 gallon Aqueon I got for 10 bucks at the dollar per gallon sale! 1 very spoiled betta fish is currently in here...somewhere...LOL!
Wow!! Looks great! See, it's pictures like that that gave me push to go CO2 this time around. And ha-ha I've had two 10 gallons in the backseat of my truck clinking around for the past 3 weeks because of the $1/gallon sale. I'm trying to not overwhelm my wife, so they've yet to even make it in the house. And here I thought I'd be able to return to fish-keeping and have just one tank...
Also, good news:
I upped my plastic bubble counter up from about 1-2bps to around 5bps and it seems to have done the trick!! Must have been too much pressure for not enough CO2 to pass through the needle valve? I don't know, I'm just glad it's finally stable. New bubble counter came in today - busted. Top tube nut is jammed. Will have to keep the aquatek bc going until the exchange is made.
Did a large water change this morning and everything is looking great. Will conduct a parameter test sometime tonight.
