US Shrimpers: Need to know some websites of where to get good substrate like Aquasoil

[AG36]

Just left the Aqua Forest Aquarium website to the tune of $88 US
for (2) 9-liter bags of the ADA Amazonia ($56 + $32 s&h) OUCH!!! Got cold feet and bailed out on that price.
Then I found out adgshop is sold out of the ADA Amazonia altogether and states:
"our suppliers are unable to predict when they will have more in stock, but as soon as they do, we will be able to ship the item to you."..... that's fine and all, but I need to move on in the meantime.

Up to this point, all I have found is 14liters of Akadama on Ebay for $50 which sounds better than $88. Not even sure 14 liters is enough for my 40 gallon (150 liters) tank.

I am fully aware that success does come with a price, but would simply like to see if there are other options this consumer could have his try at before he dives in after just seeing 2-3 website choices.

Anyone in the US know of other websites I could visit for shrimp substrate??

[Summit MicroFarm]

AG36,
I use either of those sites to purchase my ADA Amazonia. I have found the best way is to get a few friends together so everyone bears the shipping burden and buy several bags at a time.

I am currently using one 15L Akadama bag on top of crushed lava rock and it is ~1/2 " above the black plastic on the tank base of my 55g tank For those who like minimal substarte this works great...for others like me who like a deeper substrate, then I would use 2 bags or at least 1.5 15L bags.

[ebichua]

Believe it or not, if you buy 3x Aquasoil 9L bags from AquaForest, it's actually CHEAPER shipping it to you than going into the store and buying it. It's $36 at the store itself. So grab another bag or friend and get at least 3. If not, I would just get Akadama. Aquasoil is great and all, but if you don't have any intentions of keeping a lot of high-end plants or something, I don't think it's worth it.

[AG36]

Aquasoil is great and all, but if you don't have any intentions of keeping a lot of high-end plants or something, I don't think it's worth it.

Very interesting comment! One of which I have never heard this perspective. Ebichua, I hope you don't mind me throwing this comment out there, but I hope we can generate some type of dialogue about this ........anyone care to chime in?

[ebichua]

Well, the whole reason people used Aquasoil from the start is because it was a known soil that could keep ph and water properties low. As years went by, other products have come out or were already out and just tested, aka. akadama. Hardcore shrimp keepers generally keep low-tech plants in their tanks, moss and liverworts being the main types. These definitely don't need such rich substrate from Aquasoil.
If you plan on keeping root feeders, Aquasoil is amazing! If not, why not skip it? Aquasoil's intentions were to make planted tanks easy by having a nutrient rich substrate. The ph lowering qualities it had was an added bonus, to allow plants to absorb nutrients easier.

Basically, if all you wanted from Aquasoil was to get "ideal" water parameters, meaning ph/kh/gh/tds and such, you're better off with Akadama in terms of price. It can make your water soft, similarly to Aquasoil. However, I do believe it does NOT contain high nutrient levels, unlike Aquasoil.

[Nubster]

Do these water softening substrates loose their buffering ability? If so, how long is it good for?

[Summit MicroFarm]

Nubster,
That question depends on what type of water you are using to change. When using RO/DI the buffering principles of the soil lasts much longer than if you use water that has more minerals in it like many peoples tap water. The advertised lasting effects of ADA is suggested at ~ 1 year. I have had mine last 3 years and now needs to be re done as my water paramteres are flucuating causing colony colapse in my first tank using the soil.