ADA Amazonia Light
Also sold as Amazonia Light · ADA Light · Aqua Soil Amazonia Light · ADA Aqua Soil Amazonia Light
ADA Amazonia Light is an aquasoil. It holds some nutrients and pushes pH down, which is what decides whether it suits your plants and your shrimp.
At a glance
| Type | Aquasoil |
|---|---|
| Nutrients | Some |
| Grain | Medium |
| Brand | ADA (Aqua Design Amano) |
| Effect on pH | Lowers pH and KH |
| Ammonia when new | Leaches for the first weeks |
| Shrimp | Fine for both Caridina and Neocaridina |
Before it goes in
- ADA Amazonia Light is an aquasoil.
- It is lightly fertilised: root feeders grow in it without root tabs.
- It pulls pH and KH down, which suits soft-water shrimp and most plants. It also works against hardscape that raises hardness — Seiryu Stone and Elephant Skin Stone — so the two partly cancel out.
- It leaches ammonia for the first weeks. Cycle the tank on it before any shrimp or fish go in — this is the single most common way a new tank on it goes wrong.
- It is rough on fish that sift the substrate. Something finer suits German Blue Ram and Julii Cory better.
What kind of substrate is it?
Aquasoil, medium grain, holding some nutrients.
Does it change pH?
Yes, it pulls pH and KH down and holds them there until it is exhausted.
Does it leach ammonia?
Yes, for the first weeks. Cycle the tank on it before any livestock go in.
Can I use it on its own?
Yes — ADA Amazonia Light is a complete substrate on its own.
What it goes with
- Root feeders that get the most out of it: Cryptocoryne wendtii, Dwarf Hairgrass Mini, Lobelia cardinalis 'Mini' and Alternanthera reineckii.
- Animals that are fine on it: Betta, Cherry Shrimp, Goldfish and Angelfish.
Often compared with
| ADA Amazonia Light | ADA Africana | ADA Amazonia | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Aquasoil | Aquasoil | Aquasoil |
| Nutrients | Some | Some | Rich |
| pH | Lowers | Lowers | Lowers |
| Grain | Medium | Medium | 1–3 mm |
| Leaches ammonia | Yes | — | Yes |