Aquario · Active aquasoil
Aquario Neo Soil for Plant
South Korea · Dark brown · grain 2 to 4 mm
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TL;DR, Aquario Neo Soil for Plant
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.
Full specs
- Brand
- Aquario
- Country of origin
- South Korea
- Category
- Active aquasoil
- Colour
- Dark brown
- Grain size
- 2 to 4 mm
- pH target
- 6.0 to 6.8
- pH effect
- Lowers (gentle)
- KH effect
- Lowers (gentle)
- Ammonia release
- Moderate
- Nutrient content
- High
- Buffering longevity
- 12 to 18 months
- Recommended water
- Tap water tolerable, RO optional
- Difficulty
- 2 / 5
- Shrimp-safe
- Yes
- Best for
- Neocaridina shrimp, stem-plant heavy scapes, iwagumi layouts
How it works
Aquario's Neo Soil for Plant is a baked black clay aquasoil. Aquario also sells Neo Soil for Shrimp, which uses the same base with stronger buffering and lower nutrient release for Caridina tanks. The substrate has noticeably high iron content, which encourages deep red colouration on Ludwigia and Rotala.
Best use cases
Stem-plant heavy aquascapes where the substrate is mostly hidden under foliage anyway, and the priority is root nutrition. Aquario's own Co Tropica grass and stem-plant tissue cultures pair naturally with the substrate. Iwagumi layouts with hairgrass carpets also work well.
Common mistakes
Buying the wrong variant. Neo Soil for Plant is for planted tanks, Neo Soil for Shrimp is for Caridina. Mixing them up is a common returns reason.
Pro tips
The substrate is slightly more buoyant than ADA Amazonia for the first 24 hours, dust the surface lightly with water before filling to keep pellets in place.
Plants that thrive in this substrate
Hand-curated pairings based on the substrate category, not a relational query.
- Cryptocoryne WendtiiCryptocoryne wendtiiHeavy root feeder, thrives on the strong ammonia and nutrients leaching from new aquasoil.
- Amazon SwordEchinodorus grisebachiiBackground rosette with extensive root system, builds tall on the rich substrate.
- Rotala RotundifoliaRotala rotundifoliaStem plant that colours strongest under low pH + high nutrient soil conditions.
- Monte CarloMicranthemum tweedieiCarpeting plant that pearls quickly when rooted directly into aquasoil with CO2.
- Ludwigia 'Super Red'Ludwigia palustris 'Super Red'Reds deepen on active aquasoil thanks to the consistent micro-nutrient release.
Sources & further reading
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