Why do some ada contest tanks use this?

[ccLansman]

I keep seeing this being added to the filters on these contest tanks. "150g Water Softener Resin added into filter" Is there any particular benefit of using this and having softer water? Also if they are dosing ferts why use this: "Ammonia, Phosphate, and Nitrate removers"

Google Image Result for http://www.bubblesaquarium.com/images/Plants/plant_Limnophila/Limnophila%20Sessiliflora_Popup_L.jpg

This is the site that has the tank pic + specs. Is the water softener helping the tank? Same with the fert remover stuff?

Also they use this: AquaClear PowerHead 30 Undergravel Filtration, again any benefit of using it?

 

[Tom Barr]

You can try water softener resin, does not do much. They might add all sorts of junk, but............it does not imply that it helps. I have seen and can simlar things without these products, so can others.........so are they really helping out?

You cannot say.

The sediment appears to be ADA, so there is a source of nutrients, they also might feed a lot, not be able to do water changes, might have hard KH's etc.

But if you tend a tank, use lower moderate light etc, are a good scaper, the growing part is less of an issue.

Thing is, many do not tend their tanks like many of the top aquascapist
It's gardening, and design, some folks are terrible at that, but good at growing.

The removers are added such as Carbon, Zeolite, which remove these things initially, but later become biomedia. Small pore media can be useful for NO3 removal. Many think that less is better in the water column, this is fine with a rich sediment and lower light, but offers no advantage to algae or plant health(nutrients, not the lower light-this does help a lot).

Lss light = less trimming, mainteance and work, but you still need to tend the tank. Aloso, you do not see these or ADA's distaster tanks do you? They do not show nice hi resolution pictures of those nor talk that much about them or algae inducement.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[ccLansman]

thanks for the info Tom, you raise another question in my mind. You say their substrate is a good source of nutirents. I have ecco complete that is about 2 years old. Im guessing its depleted and may be a source of my problems. Would it be advisabled to purchase root tabs and scatter them around the tank into the substrate? Or is water column dosing enough?

 

[Tom Barr]

EC was never depleted because it never had much to begin with
You can add macros to it etc, or fliurite etc, but it's not the semi soft clay which allows the root hairs to get at more fine internal sources.

Kitty litter does a similar thing but has no nutrients mixed in nor peat.
Or good old clay soil from the delta.
Looks just like the ADA AS but in mud form.

Regards,
Tom Barr