- Messages
- 5
I am using ADA amazonia soil for keeping apisto.
It keep the PH around 6 and the water is clear, but does it bring any harm to apisto?
It keep the PH around 6 and the water is clear, but does it bring any harm to apisto?
It should be all right, after the initial leach of ammonia (NH4+) has occurred.I am using ADA amazonia soil for keeping apisto.
It keep the PH around 6 and the water is clear, but does it bring any harm to apisto?
Thx Darrel
Some argue about the soil will dissolve to formed small particle which will cause disease to the gill.
But there is no actual finding about this, and I would like to get more idea from the forum.
I am using ADA amazonia soil for keeping apisto.
It keep the PH around 6 and the water is clear, but does it bring any harm to apisto?
I had a long chat with an LFS owner who has stopped using mosses with his apistos because they tend to accumulate sediment, and when disturbed release clouds that affect fish, e.g. cloudy eye, rapid breathing, red gills, scratching against objects, etc.They said the aqua soil will dissolve slowly after using for few months (especially ADA soil), particle/powder will accumulate at the base.
Apisto like to foraging at the base which may casued the particle stick on the gills. Then it will breathe rapidly and the mouth can't close.
I really doubt about that theory.
However, increase number of hobbyist change to use sand because of this.
Yes, potentially you can "recharge" your active substrate with an acid wash, it is "cation exchange". Even though multivalent ions are more strongly bound than monovalent ions (other than H+) some of the ion exchange is dependent on the concentration of ions. If you have a very large concentration of H+ ions in solution the bound Ca++ ions will be replaced. <"Hydrogen ions are anomalous in the lyotropic series">.By the way, for the water chemistry gurus over here, is it possible to 'recharge' aquasoil (or peat moss, for that matter) by soaking them in dilute acids? Does it matter what acids they are? I thought of this because I read that farmers and gardeners complain about high rainfall (i.e. carbonic acid) 'leaching out' metal ions from the soil, ergo the need for lime/dolomite/K supplementation, etc. The receptors for the metal ions are being filled by H+ ions when this happens, aren't they?
I'm not sure, I've never had any problem with mosses, and some of my tanks have been extremely mossy.I had a long chat with an LFS owner who has stopped using mosses with his apistos because they tend to accumulate sediment, and when disturbed release clouds that affect fish, e.g. cloudy eye, rapid breathing, red gills, scratching against objects, etc. I suspect this is more to do with lack of tank hygiene due to overstocking or water changes and biological filtration not keeping up with bioload - sediment whether in soil or moss will be harmful to fish if they're full of decaying organics which are not yet fully decomposed.
Thanks Darrel. This is good to know. I'll be sure to report back if I ever have the opportunity to attempt a soil "recharge". I'm planning to use citric acid, mixed up from the dry form easily available at baking supply shops. Concentrated acids and lye are very strictly controlled here.Hi all, Yes, potentially you can "recharge" your active substrate with an acid wash, it is "cation exchange". Even though multivalent ions are more strongly bound than monovalent ions (other than H+) some of the ion exchange is dependent on the concentration of ions. If you have a very large concentration of H+ ions in solution the bound Ca++ ions will be replaced. <"Hydrogen ions are anomalous in the lyotropic series">.
I'm not sure, I've never had any problem with mosses, and some of my tanks have been extremely mossy.
cheers Darrel
It should work OK, but it is a weak acid. We have a <"thread on it"> with comment by "Regani" (who is a chemist).I'm planning to use citric acid, mixed up from the dry form easily available at baking supply shops.
Every now and then I take it out of the tank (if I can) and give it a rinse, but it tends to stay fairly clean, possibly because I <"have Asellus as a tank janitor"> and use sand as my substrate.Do you vacuum your moss during water changes?
Thanks for the rainwashing tip - I'll try that. It rains a lot here on the equator!Hi all, It should work OK, but it is a weak acid. We have a <"thread on it"> with comment by "Regani" (who is a chemist).
If you aren't in any hurry, and have room, you could just leave it outside for the rain to wash through. I did this with some <"moler clay based cat litter">, and it got rid of most of the ions and some of the perfume. Every now and then I take it out of the tank (if I can) and give it a rinse, but it tends to stay fairly clean, possibly because I <"have Asellus as a tank janitor"> and use sand as my substrate.
cheers Darrel