THE NEXT GENERATION SOIL

Soil forms a loose, plant-friendly substrate and provides aquatic plants with good conditions for root development. PROSCAPE MOUNT ASO SOIL takes a unique approach: the natural volcanic soil from Mount Aso is not saturated with fertiliser and therefore does not release large quantities of added nutrients into the water in an uncontrolled manner during the initial phase. At the same time, the soil can store added nutrients and release them again in a form that is readily available to plants. Natural minerals such as magnesium, potassium and calcium further support plant nutrition. Furthermore, the volcanic soil binds colour-causing substances and turbidity, thereby helping to maintain clear water in the aquarium. The open-pored structure increases the material’s surface area and provides valuable habitat for bacteria, thereby further supporting biological filtration processes in the aquarium. Thanks to its stable grain structure, the substrate remains loose and permeable.

The result: controllable fertilisation, good conditions for plants and a smoother start to the aquarium, with fewer water changes required than with heavily pre-fertilised soils.

There is no fixed replacement deadline for soil. PROSCAPE MOUNT ASO SOIL is designed to maintain a long term stable grain structure and can therefore remain in the aquarium for a long time.

How long a soil retains its specific properties also depends on the aquarium, the water parameters, the maintenance and the water changes. It is not realistic to specify a general lifespan in months or years. As long as the soil remains structurally stable, the substrate is sufficiently loose and the aquarium is functioning well, it does not need to be removed simply because of its age.

As a practical rule of thumb, a soil layer of around 5 to 8 cm is recommended for planted aquariums. In aquascaping, the substrate can slope up significantly towards the back to create more spatial depth and provide larger plants with sufficient space for their roots.

Very tall landscape features do not need to be made entirely of soil. For mountains and steep slopes, you can first build a stable base – for example, using porous volcanic rock such as JBL PROSCAPE VOLCANO MINERAL – and then cover it with soil.

The actual amount required therefore depends on the floor area, the desired layer thickness and the design of the aquascape. There is a JBL substrate calculator for this purpose.

No, soil does not need to be completely replaced on a regular basis. It only needs replacing when the substrate ceases to fulfil its intended function – for example, if the granules are breaking down significantly, the substrate is becoming increasingly compacted, or the aquarium is due to be completely redesigned anyway.

PROSCAPE MOUNT ASO SOIL has the additional benefit that it is not pre-loaded with fertiliser from the outset. Its function is therefore not based on an initial supply of fertiliser being ‘used up’ at some point. Nutrients added to the system can be stored and subsequently released back into it where they are available to the plants. Fertilisation continues to be targeted according to the plants’ actual requirements.

Thanks to the soil granules’ long-term dimensional stability, there is therefore no need to replace the entire batch as a precautionary measure after a set period of time.