The decision that shapes the tank.

pH effect

Lowers (strong)

Ammonia

Strong

Grain

2 to 5 mm

Shrimp-safe

Yes

Aqua Soil Amazonia Ver.2 uses rare Japanese black soil with added "Amazonia Supplement" granules that enhance the nitrogen and humic content. The gold standard for Caridina shrimp tanks (Crystal Red, Bee, Blue Bolt morphs) because the active buffering holds pH in the 5.8 to 6.5 range that the genus requires.

pH effect

Lowers (strong)

Ammonia

Strong

Grain

1 to 2 mm

Shrimp-safe

Yes

Identical chemistry to the standard Amazonia Ver.2 but with finer grain size (around 1 to 2 mm) that suits small-rooted carpet plants and produces a smoother visual surface. A 1 cm cap of powder type over 4 cm of standard Amazonia gives carpet plants a denser planting medium while the larger grains beneath maintain water flow through the substrate.

pH effect

Lowers (strong)

Ammonia

Moderate

Grain

2 to 5 mm

Shrimp-safe

Yes

Africana uses a different clay source (laterite-rich African soil) that produces a distinctive reddish-brown grain. African biotope tanks (Lake Tanganyika, Lake Malawi if hardness can be raised separately, West African streams) where the reddish substrate matches the natural environment.

pH effect

Lowers (gentle)

Ammonia

Light

Grain

2 to 3 mm

Shrimp-safe

Yes

Tropica Aquarium Soil is the European mass-market answer to ADA Amazonia. First planted tanks where the keeper wants nutrient-rich substrate without committing to RO water or a six-week fishless cycle.

pH effect

Lowers (gentle)

Ammonia

Light

Grain

1 to 2 mm

Shrimp-safe

Yes

Same composition as standard Tropica Aquarium Soil with smaller grain (1 to 2 mm). Top layer over standard Tropica or another active soil base, or as the only substrate in a nano tank where the visual finish matters.

pH effect

Lowers (gentle)

Ammonia

Moderate

Grain

2 to 4 mm

Shrimp-safe

Yes

UNS Controsoil is the American mid-tier active soil designed as a direct competitor to ADA Amazonia at a lower price point. Planted tank builds where ADA Amazonia is unavailable, too expensive, or considered overkill.

pH effect

Lowers (gentle)

Ammonia

Very light

Grain

2 to 4 mm

Shrimp-safe

Yes

Fluval Stratum (also known as Plant and Shrimp Stratum) uses volcanic mineral granules sourced from Japan but manufactured at scale in China. A first-time keeper's planted tank substrate in regions where ADA, Tropica, or UNS are hard to find.

pH effect

Lowers (gentle)

Ammonia

Moderate

Grain

1 to 4 mm (irregular)

Shrimp-safe

Yes

Scaper's Soil is built around Andosol, a volcanic ash soil from mountainous rainfall regions. Strong choice for Caridina shrimp tanks in Europe where Dennerle's distribution is excellent and ADA is harder to source.

pH effect

Lowers (gentle)

Ammonia

Light

Grain

2 to 6 mm (sold by size grade)

Shrimp-safe

Yes

Akadama is a Japanese clay traditionally used in bonsai cultivation. Caridina shrimp tanks on a budget, or any planted tank where the keeper is comfortable buying from garden supply rather than aquarium retail.

pH effect

Lowers (gentle)

Ammonia

Light

Grain

2 to 5 mm

Shrimp-safe

Yes

Amazonia Light Ver.2 is ADA's lighter-buffering sister to the original Amazonia. The ammonia release is roughly a third as strong and the cycle finishes in two to three weeks instead of six, so first-time aquasoil users meet less drama at startup.

pH effect

Lowers (gentle)

Ammonia

Light

Grain

2 to 4 mm

Shrimp-safe

Yes

Malaya is the warm-toned member of the ADA Aqua Soil family. The colour reads ochre rather than black, which suits Southeast Asian biotopes and any aquascape where the substrate is meant to be visible rather than recede.

pH effect

Lowers (gentle)

Ammonia

Moderate

Grain

2 to 4 mm (regular), 1 to 2 mm (powder)

Shrimp-safe

Yes

Landen Aquasoil is the value option for aquascapers who want ADA-style performance without ADA pricing. The substrate is visually almost indistinguishable from Amazonia, holds shape underwater for years, and gives most planted tanks the nutrient profile they need.

pH effect

Lowers (gentle)

Ammonia

Light

Grain

1 to 3 mm

Shrimp-safe

Yes

Mr. Aqua's aquasoil is the nano-tank specialist of the group. The grain is smaller than most aquasoils, which means it tucks into tight scapes around stone and wood without looking chunky. Buffering is mild, ammonia release is light.

pH effect

Lowers (gentle)

Ammonia

Very light

Grain

2 to 4 mm

Shrimp-safe

Yes

JBL's PlantSoil is the German-engineered take on the aquasoil category. The brand emphasises minimal ammonia release at startup, so tanks can be planted, filled, and stocked within a couple of weeks rather than cycled for two months.

pH effect

Lowers (gentle)

Ammonia

Light

Grain

1 to 3 mm

Shrimp-safe

Yes

Oliver Knott Nature Soil is a designer aquasoil with a noticeably finer grain than most competitors. It is associated with European aquascaping competition entries because the small grain reads well in photographs and tucks neatly around hardscape detail.

pH effect

Lowers (gentle)

Ammonia

Light

Grain

1 to 4 mm

Shrimp-safe

Yes

FlorinVolcanit is Brightwell's planted-tank substrate, a baked volcanic clay product engineered to release a balanced mix of macro and micronutrients. It pairs naturally with Brightwell's broader FlorinMulti dosing line.

pH effect

Lowers (gentle)

Ammonia

Moderate

Grain

2 to 4 mm

Shrimp-safe

Yes

Aquario's Neo Soil for Plant is a Korean-manufactured aquasoil that has built a strong reputation among Asian aquascapers. The substrate cycles in three to four weeks and offers strong root nutrition for stem plants and carpeting species.

pH effect

Lowers (gentle)

Ammonia

Very light

Grain

2 to 3 mm

Shrimp-safe

Yes

Prodibio's AquaGrowth Soil is engineered to pair with the brand's BioDigest bacterial dosing system. The substrate releases almost no ammonia at startup, so the tank can carry fish and shrimp from week two onward.

pH effect

Lowers (gentle)

Ammonia

Light

Grain

2 to 4 mm

Shrimp-safe

Yes

Aquatic Nature's Help Advanced Soil is the Belgian brand's planted-tank substrate. It runs at a similar price point to JBL PlantSoil and Tropica Aquarium Soil, with comparable performance.

pH effect

Neutral

Ammonia

None

Grain

2 to 5 mm

Shrimp-safe

Yes

Eco-Complete is a black volcanic basalt gravel coated with a mix of micronutrients including iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Hard-water regions where active soils' pH-lowering effect would force the keeper into RO water.

pH effect

Neutral

Ammonia

None

Grain

1 to 2 mm (gravel)

Shrimp-safe

Yes

Flourite is a porous baked clay gravel manufactured by Seachem. Planted tanks intended to run for five-plus years without substrate replacement.

pH effect

Neutral

Ammonia

None

Grain

0.5 to 1 mm (sand)

Shrimp-safe

Yes

Flourite Black Sand is the fine-grain variant of standard Flourite Black. Planted tanks stocked with corydoras catfish or other barbel-bearing species.

pH effect

Neutral

Ammonia

None

Grain

0.4 to 0.6 mm

Shrimp-safe

Yes

Pool filter sand is silica sand sold for swimming pool filtration. Budget planted tanks, especially with root tabs supplementing the nutrient delivery.

pH effect

Neutral

Ammonia

None

Grain

0.3 to 1.5 mm (sold by grit grade)

Shrimp-safe

No

Black Diamond is coal slag, a by-product of coal-fired power generation that is sold as abrasive media for industrial sandblasting. Hobbyists who want a black substrate on a strict budget and accept the caveats.

pH effect

Neutral

Ammonia

None

Grain

0.25 to 1 mm

Shrimp-safe

Yes

Tahitian Moon Sand is a black aragonite-free sand processed specifically for aquarium use. Display planted tanks where a clean uniform black substrate is the aesthetic goal and active soil chemistry is not needed.

pH effect

Neutral

Ammonia

Moderate

Grain

5 to 10 mm (porous pumice base)

Shrimp-safe

Yes

Power Sand is a base-layer substrate designed to sit under Aqua Soil. ADA-style stacked substrate (Power Sand layer of 2 to 3 cm topped with 5 to 7 cm of Aqua Soil Amazonia).

pH effect

Neutral

Ammonia

None

Grain

Powder additives sprinkled into substrate layers

Shrimp-safe

Yes

Bacter 100 is a powder of dormant beneficial bacteria that activate when the substrate is wetted. Building the full ADA premium substrate stack (Power Sand + Bacter 100 + Tourmaline BC + Aqua Soil).