ADA Malaya

[zipeer1984]

I want to start a new CRS tank and I am thinking to use this soil because I have it already. dose someone have any experience with this soil?

[Kazuya]

This might help
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/low-tech-forum/142247-ada-60p-shrimp-tank.html

He just set one up with the soil.

[gr81]

I have few tanks with this soil.
It has nice light brown color. At beginning it releases some amonium as amazonia does.
What I see as problem is, it is very light and easily crushes to dust.
Ph is around 6.2 in my tanks.
I can recommend Ada Africana. If you do not mind it´s more red tone, it is really better.
It is hard to crush, do nor release NH3 and ph is also around 6,2.

[zipeer1984]

I already have the Malaya. what is your water parameter kh, gh and tds? with kind of water do you use for water changes? ph 6.2 is not to low for CRS?

[Kazuya]

pH of 6.2 is good. You do not have to worry about that.

[gr81]

I already have the Malaya. what is your water parameter kh, gh and tds? with kind of water do you use for water changes? ph 6.2 is not to low for CRS?
tap ph 7,5; gh,kh 6;
tank ph 6,5; gh 16 (I don´t know how possible), kh 0, tds 120-150
I am trying go even lower, to 5.5
Shrimps are fine with that as I keep taiwans there. (avatar)

edit: I use tap water directly.

[MananaP]

i Have 5 tanks with africana which is think is good as substrate specially with taiwan bees because you can see the shrimps easier on this soil, all my tanks PH is sitting from 5.2-5.3 PH...

[Jrwestcoast]

i Have 5 tanks with africana which is think is good as substrate specially with taiwan bees because you can see the shrimps easier on this soil, all my tanks PH is sitting from 5.2-5.3 PH...

Do you inject CO2 or is it only the soil that gets your PH that low?

[MananaP]

Do you inject CO2 or is it only the soil that gets your PH that low?

One tank it's just the soil, the other tanks are co2 injected BUT very little 1 bubble per 3 seconds...

[zipeer1984]

i Have 5 tanks with africana which is think is good as substrate specially with taiwan bees because you can see the shrimps easier on this soil, all my tanks PH is sitting from 5.2-5.3 PH...

I want to use the soil for CRS and add RO water+minerals

[gr81]

5.3??? can you say your tap water parameters

[MananaP]

5.3??? can you say your tap water parameters

I use RO water on this which is 6.4 PH but i also use my tap water for my other tank which is 7.3ph and result still the same. I will try to see if it will go up to atleast 6ph after a few months with 2 big sponge filter air driven and very strong if it raises my ph...