Soil for CRS

Would just like to ask fellow hobbyists here on what are their experience with the substrate for CRS. If using either the Gex or ADA II what do they find that is good and not so good in the long term? Such as PH stability, break down of the soil? Because I am trying to decide on which one to go with and even the Gex soil already has 3 different types. There is also a magic zoo (taiwan) which is 1kg for $38 and is there anything special about that?

all soils u mentioned are good in bringing down the pH alittle .

but make sure its properly cycled before adding lifestock .

Gex maintains ball shape longer , AdA kinda breaks down into muddy lumps ...

magic soil never used cant comment . all depends on yr own preference

Thanks. So Gex advisable in the longer term? Also any difference if I use the green or red package? May I know if it is ok to mix soil together? (e.g ADA and Gex?) Has anyone done that?

GEX has three types of soil: dark green packaging has smallest grain size, light green has largest grain size and red is in between the dark green and light green.

This was posted by another bro: http://www.arofanatics.com/forums/sh...95&postcount=2

I have tried the dark green and red and I think the only difference would be the size of the grain. However, my dark green pkg soil seems to break down faster into dust... my guess is that the smaller the size, the faster the breakdown.

Trying out azoo soil now on a new tank coz it looks nice... cycling for 2 weeks now. The soil seems solid and has no dust... almost as though its fake. My ph is now 7.5 which is about the same as my tap water. The soil seems to not act like soil but more like a neutral gravel. No leeching and water is clear from the 1st second. If this carries on after cycling is completed, I would think azoo may not be suitable for CRS, given that the ph is not maintained below 7.

[elimmel]

have read feedback regarding GEX vs ADA in AF as well as other forums.
it seems that the pH reducing properties of GEX taper out faster than ADA. but ADA tend to break down faster. so your choice on whether you would like pH to be lowered for a longer duration but may need to change soil sooner or vice versa.

soil will eventually lose its lowering ph ability...
me currently using peat moss to reduce ph n CC to buffer e water at abt 6.5.
so far so good 2nd batch of shrimplets