HOW TO 2025.04.11
Idea for substrates in Nature Aquarium
In Nature Aquarium, substrates are spread in aquarium tanks as places for planting aquatic plants. The substrates have roles such as a role as a place for aquatic plants to take roots and firmly anchor their bodies, a role for supplying nutrients to aquatic plants, and a role for decomposing excrement and leftover food of fish and invertebrates, and purifying the water. Although many of aquatic plants that develop leaves and stems underwater are able to absorb nutrients also from the leaf surfaces, the formation of roots is essential for the healthy growth. And for a part of aquatic plants such as Cryptocoryne family and Glossostigma, the nutrient absorption from the roots is especially important. Consequently, substrates that can make aquatic plants take strong roots and supply nutrients for a long time, are highly demanded in Nature Aquarium. Power Sand series and Aqua Soil series were developed to fulfill such ideal substrates, and using the combination of Power Sand series and Aqua Soil series is the fundamental in Nature Aquarium. And in the substrates of Nature Aquarium, the symbiotic relationship between roots of aquatic plants and microorganisms is considered particularly important. It is also important to prevent compaction of substrates and to keep good breathability for a long time. In order to decompose organic matters such as excrement and leftover food of fish and invertebrates in the substrates and to promote proliferation of microorganisms that supply nutrients to aquatic plant roots, by using substrate additives such as Bacter 100, Clear Super and Tourmaline BC, the ideal substrates of Nature Aquarium can be created.
Power Sand Basic / Power Sand Advance
Power Sand that has the longest history as a substrate material for Nature Aquarium, was developed to fulfill 3 purposes such as a purpose to supply nutrients to the roots of aquatic plants, a purpose to promote proliferation of microorganisms in the substrates and a purpose to prevent compacted substrates. Mineral nutrients including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and trace elements, and organic nutrients are used as nutrients for Power Sand, and these nutrients are absorbed directly and indirectly from the roots of aquatic plants. In contrast to mineral nutrients that can be quickly absorbed by the roots of aquatic plants, organic nutrients eventually turn into forms that can be absorbed by aquatic plants (inorganic matters) when microorganisms in the substrates decompose them. However, because organic nutrients play a role as food to propagate microorganisms, both mineral nutrients and organic nutrients are essential. And for Power Sand, by using porous pumice with uneven surfaces as the base, it can avoid the very bottom part of the substrates from being hardened and being compacted when being compressed by water pressure. Because organic nutrients get into the uneven surfaces of the pumice, microorganisms can be easily propagated. For the current Power Sand series, there are Power Sand Basic and Power Sand Advance. In addition to the mineral and organic nutrients, Bacter 100 which can be a source of microorganisms working in the substrates and Clear Super containing organic acid that promotes the proliferation of microorganisms are blended in the Power Sand Basic. And in the Power Sand Advance, the formulation amount of the nutrients is increased, and in addition to Bacter 100 and Clear Super, BC Powder (bamboo charcoal powder) containing plenty of phosphoric acid (PO4) is blended. And the nutrients contained in the Power Sand sometimes cause dirty water when they dissolve in the water during the early stage of aquarium tank setup, and outbreaks of algae. Consequently, it can be said that Power Sand Basic which contains less formulation amount of the nutrients is easier to handle when creating Nature Aquarium for the first time. On the other hand, when being familiar with creating Nature Aquarium and when there is a filter with functioning biological filtrations, the Power Sand Advance is recommended because the well growth of aquatic plants and longer lasting nutrients are expected.
Power Sand that has the longest history as a substrate material for Nature Aquarium, was developed to fulfill 3 purposes such as a purpose to supply nutrients to the roots of aquatic plants, a purpose to promote proliferation of microorganisms in the substrates and a purpose to prevent compacted substrates. Mineral nutrients including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and trace elements, and organic nutrients are used as nutrients for Power Sand, and these nutrients are absorbed directly and indirectly from the roots of aquatic plants. In contrast to mineral nutrients that can be quickly absorbed by the roots of aquatic plants, organic nutrients eventually turn into forms that can be absorbed by aquatic plants (inorganic matters) when microorganisms in the substrates decompose them. However, because organic nutrients play a role as food to propagate microorganisms, both mineral nutrients and organic nutrients are essential. And for Power Sand, by using porous pumice with uneven surfaces as the base, it can avoid the very bottom part of the substrates from being hardened and being compacted when being compressed by water pressure. Because organic nutrients get into the uneven surfaces of the pumice, microorganisms can be easily propagated. For the current Power Sand series, there are Power Sand Basic and Power Sand Advance. In addition to the mineral and organic nutrients, Bacter 100 which can be a source of microorganisms working in the substrates and Clear Super containing organic acid that promotes the proliferation of microorganisms are blended in the Power Sand Basic. And in the Power Sand Advance, the formulation amount of the nutrients is increased, and in addition to Bacter 100 and Clear Super, BC Powder (bamboo charcoal powder) containing plenty of phosphoric acid (PO4) is blended. And the nutrients contained in the Power Sand sometimes cause dirty water when they dissolve in the water during the early stage of aquarium tank setup, and outbreaks of algae. Consequently, it can be said that Power Sand Basic which contains less formulation amount of the nutrients is easier to handle when creating Nature Aquarium for the first time. On the other hand, when being familiar with creating Nature Aquarium and when there is a filter with functioning biological filtrations, the Power Sand Advance is recommended because the well growth of aquatic plants and longer lasting nutrients are expected.
Aqua Soil – Amazonia Ver.2
Aqua Soil series is a principal substrate material to compose the substrates of Nature Aquarium, and is used by being spread on Power Sand. As for a common feature of Aqua Soil, natural soil is heat-sterilized and formed into grains. However, unlike general hard ceramic materials, the grains are soft. Therefore, there is an advantage of not interrupting the growth of aquatic plant roots. And Aqua Soil is basically acidic with the function of organic acid contained in the natural soil of the raw material. Therefore, there is also an advantage of making the environment in the substrates in a way that aquatic plants can easily absorb the nutrients from the roots. In the Aqua Soil series, because Aqua Soil Amazonia using natural black soil as the raw material is especially rich in nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), Iron (Fe), sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg) as well as humic acid derived from plants, the growth of aquatic plants is particularly well, and it has been extensively used the most in Nature Aquarium. However, the raw material of Amazonia, the black soil is special and different from general volcanic ash black soil (andosol). Because it is rare soil with limited amount only available in limited locations for collecting the soil, there have been situations that we could not supply stably in recent years. Also, humic acid and nutrients tend to dissolve into the water from Amazonia in the early stage of aquarium tank setup, and could cause discoloration and turbidity of water. Consequently, if creating Nature Aquarium for the first time, it might be hard to handle. The product created to improve such situations, is Aqua Soil Amazonia Ver.2. For Amazonia Ver.2, by using black soil different from the existing Amazonia with less dissolving humic acid and nutrients, discoloration and turbidity of water are unlikely to occur in the early stage of aquarium tank setup. But the benefit of the existing Amazonia for the well aquatic plant growth would be lost with that alone. Amazonia Supplement developed to strengthen the nutrients comes with the Amazonia Ver.2. Amazonia Supplement is a pellet typed supplement with humic acid and nutrients that are plentifully contained in the existing Amazonia. By spreading Amazonia Supplement on Power Sand and then spreading Amazonia Ver.2 on top of them, healthy aquatic plants grow as well as with the existing Amazonia. Although Amazonia Ver.2 can be used by itself as a substrate material, in order to maintain the nutrients in the substrate for a long time, it is recommended to use it with Power Sand series.
Aqua Soil series is a principal substrate material to compose the substrates of Nature Aquarium, and is used by being spread on Power Sand. As for a common feature of Aqua Soil, natural soil is heat-sterilized and formed into grains. However, unlike general hard ceramic materials, the grains are soft. Therefore, there is an advantage of not interrupting the growth of aquatic plant roots. And Aqua Soil is basically acidic with the function of organic acid contained in the natural soil of the raw material. Therefore, there is also an advantage of making the environment in the substrates in a way that aquatic plants can easily absorb the nutrients from the roots. In the Aqua Soil series, because Aqua Soil Amazonia using natural black soil as the raw material is especially rich in nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), Iron (Fe), sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg) as well as humic acid derived from plants, the growth of aquatic plants is particularly well, and it has been extensively used the most in Nature Aquarium. However, the raw material of Amazonia, the black soil is special and different from general volcanic ash black soil (andosol). Because it is rare soil with limited amount only available in limited locations for collecting the soil, there have been situations that we could not supply stably in recent years. Also, humic acid and nutrients tend to dissolve into the water from Amazonia in the early stage of aquarium tank setup, and could cause discoloration and turbidity of water. Consequently, if creating Nature Aquarium for the first time, it might be hard to handle. The product created to improve such situations, is Aqua Soil Amazonia Ver.2. For Amazonia Ver.2, by using black soil different from the existing Amazonia with less dissolving humic acid and nutrients, discoloration and turbidity of water are unlikely to occur in the early stage of aquarium tank setup. But the benefit of the existing Amazonia for the well aquatic plant growth would be lost with that alone. Amazonia Supplement developed to strengthen the nutrients comes with the Amazonia Ver.2. Amazonia Supplement is a pellet typed supplement with humic acid and nutrients that are plentifully contained in the existing Amazonia. By spreading Amazonia Supplement on Power Sand and then spreading Amazonia Ver.2 on top of them, healthy aquatic plants grow as well as with the existing Amazonia. Although Amazonia Ver.2 can be used by itself as a substrate material, in order to maintain the nutrients in the substrate for a long time, it is recommended to use it with Power Sand series.
Bottom Plus
Among nutrients essential for aquatic plants, nitrogen (N) is quantitatively the most demanded and has significant impact on the growth of aquatic plants and photosynthesis. If there is a shortage of nitrogen especially in the early stage of aquarium tank setup, aquatic plants don’t grow well, and some of them could decline and disappear depending on species. Consequently, by combining Power Sand series with Aqua Soil series for the substrates of Nature Aquarium, a lot of nitrogen can be supplied from the early stage of aquarium tank setup. Because a raw material of Aqua Soil, the natural soil has an ability to hold nitrogen, by spraying Green Brighty Nitrogen on Aqua Soil and permeating the soil grains when setting the substrate, a method to strengthen nitrogen is performed. The nutrients such as nitrogen in the substrates decrease as time advances by being absorbed from the roots of aquatic plants or being removed during change of water after being dissolved in the aquarium water. As a result, the growth of the aquatic plants becomes remarkably slow in the aquarium tank after about a few months to a year passed. And leaves of aquatic plants such as Glossostigma that require particularly a lot of nitrogen turn into dwarf forms. Bottom Plus was developed in order to improve such a situation. Bottom Plus is a solid nutrient that can be added to the substrates with decreased nutrients. It is used by injecting into the substrates with Bottom Release. The base of Bottom Plus is the natural soil same as the raw material of Aqua Soil, and plenty of nitrogen is kneaded. Because iron (Fe) and sulfur (S) that Cryptocoryne family actively absorbs from the roots are also kneaded, it is suitable for long term maintenance of aquascapes. The effect of Bottom Plus can be clearly seen especially with Glossostigma that actively absorbs nitrogen. If the growth becomes worsen, using more of Bottom Plus is the key point for maintaining the plant beautifully.
Among nutrients essential for aquatic plants, nitrogen (N) is quantitatively the most demanded and has significant impact on the growth of aquatic plants and photosynthesis. If there is a shortage of nitrogen especially in the early stage of aquarium tank setup, aquatic plants don’t grow well, and some of them could decline and disappear depending on species. Consequently, by combining Power Sand series with Aqua Soil series for the substrates of Nature Aquarium, a lot of nitrogen can be supplied from the early stage of aquarium tank setup. Because a raw material of Aqua Soil, the natural soil has an ability to hold nitrogen, by spraying Green Brighty Nitrogen on Aqua Soil and permeating the soil grains when setting the substrate, a method to strengthen nitrogen is performed. The nutrients such as nitrogen in the substrates decrease as time advances by being absorbed from the roots of aquatic plants or being removed during change of water after being dissolved in the aquarium water. As a result, the growth of the aquatic plants becomes remarkably slow in the aquarium tank after about a few months to a year passed. And leaves of aquatic plants such as Glossostigma that require particularly a lot of nitrogen turn into dwarf forms. Bottom Plus was developed in order to improve such a situation. Bottom Plus is a solid nutrient that can be added to the substrates with decreased nutrients. It is used by injecting into the substrates with Bottom Release. The base of Bottom Plus is the natural soil same as the raw material of Aqua Soil, and plenty of nitrogen is kneaded. Because iron (Fe) and sulfur (S) that Cryptocoryne family actively absorbs from the roots are also kneaded, it is suitable for long term maintenance of aquascapes. The effect of Bottom Plus can be clearly seen especially with Glossostigma that actively absorbs nitrogen. If the growth becomes worsen, using more of Bottom Plus is the key point for maintaining the plant beautifully.
