In a planted aquarium, I am always asked the same sort of question about substrates. For example which is best and which will provide my plants with the best type of growth…? It’s a tough question to answer really because all have advantages and disadvantages.

Each substrate has benefits, and all sorts of hobbyists favour different brands for different reasons. I’ve tried them all and still think each has it’s own merits (I’m almost sitting on the fence here…). But there’s one brand, ADA, that really promote the use of Power Sand Special below their Aquasoil. In each aquascape Amano produces, he uses it, and for some it comes under a lot of scrutiny. Is it just marketing (no), but what is it for and should I use some?

Power Sands are products that are placed below your substrate and work to turbo charge your existing base. We’ve lumped them altogether under one category and have included Laterite as a Power Sand so you can get the idea (they are all different though). But we’re focusing on ADA Power Sand Special as this is the most interesting product and as mentioned previously, gets people hot under the collar for a wide range of reasons. ADA recommend that you use Power Sand Special under every substrate of Aquasoil when using CO2. Their definition is:

Power Sand is base substrate material designed for providing nutrients to the roots of aquatic plants and promoting growth of substrate bacteria. Porous volcanic stones secure the water circulation, and organic nutrients promote the growths of bacteria. Please select right size, S, M, L according to the depth of aquarium tank.

It looks like this…

As you can see from the image, the porous pumice type rock allows for excellent root migration. As plants are placed in the Aquasoil, their roots shoot down into the Power Sand and anchor deep within. In Power Sand Special a number of nutrients and additives are added along with ADA Clear Super (activated carbon and nutrients) and ADA Bacter 100 (contains 100 types of bacteria in a dormant state). Incidentally Bacter 100 works great if you have green algae – simply sprinkle it on the top and it disappears. The additives which are added to Power Sand Special help provide your substrate with the ideal conditions for long term use – this means that with the addition of this product, your aquascape will last longer and grow better.

But who should use it and why they should use it? If you’re a serious aquascaper and are looking to produce the best type of aquascape then Power Sand Special has major benefits:

1. it will stop your substrate depleting so quickly
2. it provides the perfect medium for aquatic plants that prefer to absorb their nutrients via their roots (cryptocoryne and echinodorus are prime examples)
3. it provides additives to ensure your substrate has the right bacteria – high water clarity is seen when using it
4. it allows plants to grow faster than with Aquasoil alone

So the benefits are good but who shouldn’t use it? Novices should steer clear and the reason is simple. If you need to move your plants around because you might be unhappy about the placement, it’s not a good idea. As your plants anchor down, they will latch onto the Power Sand Special (as they should) but when you pull the plant up to move it, the pumice will come up with it. So it can become messy.  If you are not using CO2, then I don’t believe you need it and Aquasoil is fine on its own.

All in all, Power Sand Special comes under a lot of scrutiny, and I really don’t see why. It’s a premium product that does what it says. Sure it might cost more than you think, but so do many things in life. If you think it’s out of your budget, don’t worry, just use Aquasoil, but if you’re thinking maybe I should, why not. Try it, see what you think and you might even see what all the fuss is about. Alternatively you can jump on a forum and say how rubbish it is – but most of the people who say that have never used it

I recommend the 6L bag – for most average sized tanks (less than 100L) you won’t even need half the bag and you can use the other half in your next aquascape.

Would love to hear any comments about Power Sand Special along with your experience of the product.