Q&A
- General Questions
- vol.001 [Aqua Soil Series]
- vol.002 [Lighting System]
- vol.003 [CO2 System]
- vol.004 [Filter System]
- vol.001 [Aqua Soil Series]
- vol.002 [Lighting System]
- vol.003 [CO2 System]
- vol.004 [Filter System]
Mail for Q&A
Please send us your questions concerning this month's topic.
We cannot promise to answer every inquiry nor reply to you personally, unfortunately.
But those questions which should be shared with other hobbyists will be answered in this "Q & A" section
naweb@adana.co.jp
General Questions
Q.1) What are the major differences in the characteristics of Aqua Soil Amazonia, Malaya, and Africana? What are they specifically in terms of the ability to decrease pH, the effect on KH, and the brittleness of soil particles?
A.1) The differences among the Aqua Soil Series substrate materials are primarily the amount of nitrogen (organic materials) and pH decreasing (same as kH decreasing) effect as described below:
Nitrogen content in descending order:
Amazonia -> Amazonia II -> Africana -> Malaya (contains practically no nitrogen.)
* Aquatic plants grow better in a substrate with higher nitrogen content. Thus, they grow better in Amazonia and Amazonia II.
Ability to decrease pH in descending order:
Malaya -> Africana -> Amazonia II -> Amazonia
* As pH decreases, KH also decreases. Malaya and Africana are best suited for the purpose of decreasing pH.
As for the brittleness of soil particles, Malaya has particles that are the most brittle and easiest to break up. The brittleness is about the same among the other three types.
Q.1) What are the major differences in the characteristics of Aqua Soil Amazonia, Malaya, and Africana? What are they specifically in terms of the ability to decrease pH, the effect on KH, and the brittleness of soil particles?
A.1) The differences among the Aqua Soil Series substrate materials are primarily the amount of nitrogen (organic materials) and pH decreasing (same as kH decreasing) effect as described below:
Nitrogen content in descending order:
Amazonia -> Amazonia II -> Africana -> Malaya (contains practically no nitrogen.)
* Aquatic plants grow better in a substrate with higher nitrogen content. Thus, they grow better in Amazonia and Amazonia II.
Ability to decrease pH in descending order:
Malaya -> Africana -> Amazonia II -> Amazonia
* As pH decreases, KH also decreases. Malaya and Africana are best suited for the purpose of decreasing pH.
As for the brittleness of soil particles, Malaya has particles that are the most brittle and easiest to break up. The brittleness is about the same among the other three types.
Q.2) I feed AP-GOLD to my fish. Do I still need to give them VITAMIX even though AP-GOLD contains vitamins?
A.2) The composition of vitamins in AP-GOLD is different from that of VITAMIX. While AP-GOLD contains mainly oil-soluble vitamins, VITAMIX is composed primarily of water-soluble vitamins. Although the requirement for vitamins varies depending on the type, feeding habit, and maturity level of fish, generally the addition of VITAMIX on top of AP-GOLD can make a wider variety of vitamins available to your fish and helps maintain good physical conditions of your fish. Since fish expend more vitamins when they are under stress, it is useful to add vitamins when a new fish is added to an aquarium or when the stocking density is high.
Q.3) I recently purchased Grand Solar I. How high above the water surface should it be hung, optimally?
A.3) A single Grand Solar I is adequate for illuminating a 90cm aquarium. Its lighting unit can provide a sufficient brightness for growing aquatic plants when installed 30 cm away from the water surface.
Q.4) How long does Clean Beads last and when should I replace Penac A?
A.4) Clean Beads releases its active ingredient along with its fragrance. It should be replaced when its fragrance becomes weak. The duration of the fragrance varies greatly depending on the amount of Clean Beads used, the capacity of the air pump used, and the duration of aeration. Penac A produces its effect when its surface comes into contact with water. It should be replaced with a new one when the surface becomes covered by algae.
Q.5) I am a fan of Mr. Amano’s. What kind of camera do you use? What camera do you recommend to a beginner?
A.5) I use primarily 8 x 10 and 5 x 7 large format cameras. The cameras that I use are made by Deardorff and EBONY. In addition to cameras, large format camera lenses and studio strobes are required as well. Besides the photography skill that is needed, this type of equipment is too expensive for general use by a novice. A DSLR camera is easy to use for taking general aquascape pictures.
Q.6) I purchased a Solar I in Singapore. The ballast says that it is rated for 100V-230V. Can it really operate at both 100V and 200V?
A.6) Electronic ballasts, such as the one for Solar I, can operate at both 100V and 200V. As long as its electrical plug matches the type of electrical outlet available, the ballast can be used at 200V.
Q.7) The article in the May TFH issue discussed a product that is used for controlling algae on the leaves of Anubias nana. Where can I get this product?
A.7) The product that you inquired about is Phyton-Git. Please talk to a dealer near you for purchasing this product.
Q.8) I purchase Bio Rio recently. Do I need any other products, such as Bio Ring, for filter bacteria to take hold?
A.8) Bio Rio is biological filtration media. Filter bacteria will colonize this media alone.
Q.9) I am using Amazonia for the substrate in my 180 liter aquarium.
What is the useful life of Aqua Soil? Does it need to be replaced due to crumbling or the depletion of nutrients?
My tap water has pH of 6 and GH of 8. Which Amazonia should I use, Amazonia I or Amazonia II?
A.9) To maintain good growth of aquatic plants, Aqua Soil should be replaced in approximately one year. Its soil particles can hold their shape for 2 to 3 years without crumbling and losing water permeability. Since its nutrients are depleted generally after one year, nutrients should be replenished using a fertilizer product, such as Multi Bottoms.
Q.10) I started using Amazonia recently. Can NA Carbon eliminate the cloudiness and yellowing of water? If it can, how long does it take to do so?
A.10) Although NA Carbon is effective for counteracting yellowing of water, yellowing that is caused by Amazonia can last a very long time depending on the quality of the water and, therefore, it will be difficult to remove it using NA Carbon alone (the effectiveness of NA Carbon lasts approximately two weeks.) Yellowing is best dealt with by doing regular water changes in addition to using NA Carbon. When Amazonia causes cloudiness or yellowing of water, it is often due to the near neutral or slightly alkaline quality of the water. If you turn the water somewhat acidic by applying a thin layer of powder type Amazonia II over the surface of the substrate, the problem can be resolved sooner.
Q.11) What is the useful life of Palm Net?
A.11) Because Palm Net is composed of natural plant fibers, it starts to lose its shape in about one year of use. It should be replaced every six months to a year as a general rule.