RohanC

Hello guys will be starting my second planted setup in time ahead and am confused about which substrate to use. I have two options New Amazonia and DIY(Laterite+Soilrite+Humus+2mm sand gravel topping)

Now my query is will this DIY recipe be good to grow most of the plants?

Also what will be real difference between the Amazonia and DIY substrate?

ukamikazu

I am terrified to approach this question . The most infuriating answer I can give is that all our better known, proven methods are good, each having their own pros and cons. It depends on you.

What are you budgeted for?

How much or how little time/trouble/effort do you want to expend? You could approach this question as, "Do I consider myself a DIY person? Do I enjoy that aspect of the hobby?"

Are you the type to plant and leave it alone for forever or are you the type to change aquascapes several times within a year?

Are you more into the fish or are you more into the plants or is it a little of both?

Are you adverse to learning some slightly higher level technical concepts to improve your husbanding skills?

These questions aren't rhetorical or meant to make you feel small. Your answers will effect our advice and hopefully get you thinking more about what you want to do and where you want to go. It's all a journey and probably one with no particular destination.

__________________
"You are much better off with no numbers than meaningless ones. The minute you believe numbers uncritically, that is, without understanding how they're calculated and how well they measure whatever they're supposed to measure, you will generate a breed of employee who will produce numbers and not results. Your data-processing system will then serve not to describe reality but to lie about it."

-Micheal S. Montalbano

Relativistic

Ehs! Ehs! :-)

RohanC

My budget permits Amazonia though its a bit on tighter side

I can give 15-20 mins each day and frequent water change is also feasible for me.

I used DIY substrate(ONLY Laterite + 2mm sand gravel topping) in my first tank and got fair result.Will post pics of the previous setup.

I like doing DIY stuffs so that's a BIG YES

I will be looking into plants more than fishes.

and for the lasy question too my answer is Yes

So please guide as am a bit confused since i saw some guys using amazonia and got better plant growth than my previous DIY substrate so was wondering whether to use or not

ukamikazu

Then Amazonia it is. Sometimes preference is all the justification you need.

I've used ADA products before and I think they can be DIY'd by the hobbyist though there is no major price difference I can detect with my own personal efforts. I believe the closest you can come to with a proven, currently well known method endorsed and supported by many would be mineralized topsoil with an inert cap, something with a high CEC (cation exchange capacity) like Flourite or Eco Complete or even a better, cheaper alternative would be something like montmorillonite are arcillite which is not rare. Other similar brands with similar clays would be Oil Dri or Turface.

If you do choose to go with the Amazonia, use the entire system per the ADA documentation. It does grow plants, it grows them well and works for years at a time Just follow their instructions to the letter. This is costly but sane though I would personally not choose to be hostage to them.

__________________
"You are much better off with no numbers than meaningless ones. The minute you believe numbers uncritically, that is, without understanding how they're calculated and how well they measure whatever they're supposed to measure, you will generate a breed of employee who will produce numbers and not results. Your data-processing system will then serve not to describe reality but to lie about it."

-Micheal S. Montalbano