Trying ADA AS For First Time

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Mark Lem

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Dec 4, 2006
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Currently have 120gal semi high tech planted, no real scheme or idea to it kind of a mish mash of plants, etc...but in a month or so moving up to 180gal range, high tech planted with a plan. Have ordered a good bit of wood from Tom (to go with previous batch from him currently in use) will be trying some things for first time (needle wheel CO2, ATI lighting with burst scheme etc) and ADA Amazonia.

I've only used inert type substrates in past (plain gravel, fluorite, eco complete). Whenever I've moved up from a smaller tank to larger, I simply use the old substrate, add new to it, hook up the same seasoned canister filter, and put the fish in right away.

For this new tank, I'm not re-using the old substrate but I will be using the old Eheim canister on the new tank. Question: does the ADA AS give off nitrates, ammonia etc? I get that impression from the forums that it does. Will my Eheim 2080 be able to handle it, and Can I add my fish (tetras, electric blue rams, plecs, 3 discus) from the old tank right away, or do I need to keep the old tank going for a month (not easy to do but not impossible) or so while the new substrate settles out?

Thanks in advance
 
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Tom Barr

Tom Barr

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I would wait about 1 week and keep them ina trash bin with aeration and change the water, say 1/3 daily.

The tank should have the water changed about 70-90% 3-4x over the next week, week and 1/2.

Then add the fish. You can add zeolite to the filter also to insure no NH4 issues also prior to adding the fish.
This will turn to biomedia later.

Make sure the old filter is good and mature before you take it off the other tank etc.
All that biomedia will help transition.
 
Tom Barr

Tom Barr

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Also, watch those ADa videos, they show you how to scape, prune and all the other things when dealing with planting in this soft sediment.
You do not want to mash the sediment, it'll turn to dust and make a mess.

So be careful and top plants, try and avoid uprooting large areas or moving plants around too much, too fast.
 
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Mark Lem

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Dec 4, 2006
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Thanks for all the suggestions I appreciate it. I'm ready to do the new tank the right way, excited to work with the AS as I've enver tried anything but inert. When the wood comes I'll get it soaking and look for a tank. There's a place near me in Michigan (Great Lakes Aquarium) that makes tanks to order, I could get a rimless 180 or any dimension actually with starfire glass there. Have heard they do a decent job. Maybe I could go wild like Gerryd did with the masterpiece he recently sold. This tank will go against a wall in the family room, 5-6 feet length, I don't have quite the space to work with like he did so the width of the tank can't be as big
 
Tom Barr

Tom Barr

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ADA also has the Aquajournal which can be purchased on line as a pdf. Then they have a youtube video channel I think, or you can search how to etc........
Well worth watching if you have not already.

Focus on the trimming methods, the before and after looks etc, you may pass over the poetry, the marketing and sales stuff........
 
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bsmith782

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Mar 14, 2007
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I would agree with all the info except only waiting a week to put fish in. Unless the new AS leaches less ammonia faster that is.

In past tanks set up with original AS it has taken 3-4 weeks for my tank to be free of any ammonia. At the end, Maude the last 10 days the ammonia levels were low but still it was there.

Also, planting heavily with fast growing stems as soon as your done filling the tank with water will also help eliminate ammonia and help the tank cycle more quickly.

HTH
 
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