Petshrimp.com Discussion Forum

Hi shrimp friends,

Long time no see !

I think some of you might have heard of a CRS book in the Japanese language. I saw it long time ago but I didn't buy it because I don't know their language. Wow, recently I found a translated version (Chinese version) published by a Taiwan company. The contents are marvellous. CRS lovers (they're all Japanese people) share their precious experience in the book. I've got something interesting and would like to share with you all:

Two CRS lovers say that they use ADA Amazon soil which enhances frequent reproduction and better growth. I'm so amazed to read that a CRS lover started with 16 CRS and ended up having 1,500 CRS after eight months ! He said ADA Amazon soil helped him a lot.

Hi Becky,

It's probably because ADA soil lowers the ph and keeps it in the acidic range for quite a long time (although not indefinitely as far as I know). I might be wrong, but I believe that that peat is an ingredient in the manufacture (yes, the "soil" is artificial) of ADA soil. As we all know peat acidifies water (i.e. lowers ph). That might explain the success of this particular person. However, just acidifying the water is not enough..one has to give them right environment in all other aspects, too...i.e. food, temperature, water quality..etc...etc.

Hi there,

I had been Japan and visit the breeder a few month ago. Yes, she love to put ADA soil as the bed for the shrimp. However, a very import point I can find is...whatever type of soil she used. All tanks were put over 3 inch of soil. It is why keep 16pcs of CRS can get 1500 pcs of CRS after a year.

Here is the article about the Japan Breeder which I visited.

http://www.aquafever.com/articles/japan.htm

aquafever wrote:Hi there,

I had been Japan and visit the breeder a few month ago. Yes, she love to put ADA soil as the bed for the shrimp. However, a very import point I can find is...whatever type of soil she used. All tanks were put over 3 inch of soil. It is why keep 16pcs of CRS can get 1500 pcs of CRS after a year.

Here is the article about the Japan Breeder which I visited.

http://www.aquafever.com/articles/japan.htm

How will three inches of ADA susbtrate be different to one inch, two inches?

-Pedro

They even use 'water cooler machine'. But I wonder if small ones for small tanks are available and if they're very expensive.

Most of them feed them with boiled spinach sometimes.

Those chillers are necessary if you live in a hot climate and do not have air conditioning. Most of us in the US have the luxury of central air/heat and typically maintain our homes at temperatures that CRS prefer.

Today I saw ADA Amazonia soil in LFS. It turns out that it's not really expensive in my country - US$7 for 3 litres. But 3 litres is too much for my small tank and there is nothing smaller than this size.

You can buy the bag and use what you need and save the rest for the other tanks you will have later on as you need to expand

Oh, a spare bag of ADA soil is a kind of temptation. My home doesn't have any more space for more tanks.

Well ,
dont know if ADA Soil is available in Canada , never see it anywhere but
i am using : Terra H2O who is Complex Argilo-Humic For Plants who i think have almost the same properties of ADA.

I have no idea. ADA soil is made in, I'm not sure if it's Japan or U.S.A.

its made in Japan, primarily for use as substrate for planted tanks. the ph lowering ability is a nice side effect. makes growing acidic water plants like tonias and some eriocoulans possible, and HC loves it. my water here is on the hard side and with the ADA soil the ph goes down to a nice 6.8 or so from 8.2-8.4 from the tap. i add press co2 for the plants which lowers it to 6.5 or so. crs and plants love it. if you want to keep crs and you have hard water, this is the easiest way to get your soft water conditions, and keep your plants happy as well. your lucky to get it so cheap in Asia, in the US it runs 34-36US a bag, and only a couple of distributers sell it (ADG, and Aquaforest).

Thanks for the information dhavoc. I have been looking for ADA soil locally and could not find it. But now one of my LFS is going to be carrying it, I just hope the price is not going to be too high.