Dymax Base Soil Plant Substrate - 3L

The Dymax Base Soil is a granular plant soil for planted aquariums, made for plants that feed mainly through their roots.

Key Features

• Dymax says the soil supplies trace elements for plant growth and helps root development
• Typically lowers pH and softens the water — a range most tropical fish and shrimp prefer
• Granules are sized to let water flow through, giving extra surface area for beneficial bacteria
• Dymax states the granules keep their shape underwater and don't cloud the water
• 3-litre bag

How To Use

• Lay 3–5 cm at the front rising to 6–8 cm at the back; plan roughly 1 litre of soil per 10 litres of tank as a starting point.
• Fill the tank slowly over a plate or bag so the soil isn't disturbed.
• Expect some ammonia release from new plant soils — cycle the tank and do frequent water changes before adding fish or shrimp.

Good To Know

• Because it lowers pH and hardness, it is less suited to fish that need hard, alkaline water such as African rift-lake cichlids.
• Plant soils slowly lose their nutrient and buffering capacity over one to two years; root tabs can extend their life.
• Avoid deep gravel vacuuming, which breaks the granules down into mud.
• Cycle a new tank before adding fish: give the filter bacteria around 4–6 weeks to establish and test for ammonia and nitrite first.