Originally Posted by nasfish

Hi,

I am for one did not agree with this statement, to tell that using ADA soil, nothing is learnt or little skill learnt. The learning process will be a lot easier, maybe.

Yes, you can grow plants by just simply poking them into the soil, heck, anybody can grow plants by just poking them into the plain gravel. But how well this plant grow?. Do they grow up to its potential? Or merely alive, with yellowing leaves, waiting to melt away and die?. And finally is this what you want for your planted tank? No matter what substrate or soil you use, whether it is ADA soil or just plain gravel, as long as you growing something, I bet you will learn something and with that your skill will developed.

Only thing is, with good substrate, you can try difficult plants, but still, it is the same thing, you will learn something too. You will learn plants need food to strive not only to keep them alive. You will learn if you don't have enough ferts, plant will not grow up to its potential. You will learn plant needs CO2. Not enough CO2, plant don't do well, algae will instead. You will learn what sort of lighting is needed for this or that plant. ADA soil helps a lot initially, but as time goes by, even ADA soil will depleted of its goodness. I am not merely repeating this. I have experienced it myself. From plain Holland sand to base fert and to ADA soil. What other ‘guru’ said maybe as guidelines, may or may not the whole truth, but you have to do it yourself to know the best solutions for you giving the various parameters involved (water, lighting, CO2 etc). What I can do only to state the obvious, which may or may not works for you. To totally ignore and laugh at others about their suggestions, is wrong too. Do it and see for yourself. ADA soil will not solve your problem (even at 75%), but you will. You can have the most expensive stuff for your tank, but with a lack of knowledge, you won’t go far. Skill will be developed as you go along.

In short, to have a good skill in planted tank and dealing problems comes with it, got nothing to do with your choice of the substrate. And finally, what is it, with being cocky to do with planted tank. This kind of attitude will definitely shy away anyone (old or new) to have a good Q & A session. Even if you are one “know it all” kind of person, that’s not meant you have stopped learning altogether?. But what would I know, it is your method anyway.

Best Regards