plantbrain

Cheap semi soft enriched clay Barr Substrates. Molasses added to encourage growth of bacteria and mychorrhizal fungi. Cost relative to "MPV Turface", doing an ADA soil vs this product presently. Various grain sizes also(Dark black brown color) appears very much like ADA aqua soil except 10X cheaper (and much cheaper than Onyx/Flourite etc). Various nutrient content options also. Available late Oct.

Still running the test, but it looks just like the ADA stuff and is soft clay like material and comes in various nutrient contents and grain sizing.

I've never really liked suggesting Flourite or other expensive substrates to folks, I still wish this stuff was heavier, but it's not too bad I suppose once you get use to it.

I have 2 tanks ea with ADA Amazonia and with my Barr substrate(BS for short -haha, but the material is no joke).

Regards,
Tom Barr

Gomer

It would be interesting if you did 2 side by side tanks with identical plants. Do a photo journal over maybe 3-4 weeks.

shalu

Tom, is your cheap substrate closer to aqua soil or power sand? You are only using aqua soil amanonia in the ADA substrate tank, no power sand?

bharada

Tom,
Are you planning on marketing/selling this stuff or are you just keeping the specifics to yourself until your trials are completed?

Raul-7

Is it possible to break it down and analyze the chemical make-up of both of them?

TWood

If, as you've said before, plants can get all they need from the water column, then why be concerned about the properties of the substrate? (Aside from it not doing anything negative.)

TW

omega

Why molasses? Can we use sugar instead? I steal Sweet & Low from restaurants all the time. It would be nice for me to start using them.

But anyway, is the bacteria and mychorrhizal fungi the reason why ADA Amazonia does that crazy voodoo thing to plants that everyone seems to be talking about? Oh, and didn't people say that you're not supposed to add sugar to a tank because it's "bad" when people asked if they can imitate Excel by adding raw table sugar? This is like the diet craze. "Carbs is good for you," says expert 1. "Carbs make you fat," says expert 2.

Very confused.

AaronT

mmmm....just like grandma used to make.

urville

well i dont know if "table sugar" can helplants but it is a fact that plants use the power of photosynthesis to extract glucose which is the energy they use to grow...

i've also heard adding a very small amount of "table" sugar to a reef tank can help some corals really go crazy with growth.

plantbrain

The sugars are for the bacteria to eat.
We generally are reduced carbon limited (like sugar carbs, not CO2) at the start up. This as well as little for the plants will help. Plants can be sustained on sucrose and cold temps without light for long peroids(months or longer for Tissue culture samples).

What do plants need for food?
Sugars......
There is a __limit__ to this obviously.

One tank:
Using ADA power sand + Amazonia AS.

Tank two will have the Barr dirt (sort of the soil version) + MPV Turface + secret sauce(peat, a general macro+ dried mulm).

I'm keeping the specs to myself till the test run is over.
I have the complete break down of what my product is, I know a few things about ADA's product, but analysis in depth, but I do not need that info either...........

TW- yep, but I'd like to see if this might be an alternative to ADA soil which many seem enamoured with. But I do know this: many plants do better with a substrate, many have start up problems with a tank(see why wait to fert a new tank thread).

I'm going to do one test without ferts to the water column, inspect the roots, and leaves etc.
Then another with the water column ferts over a 4 week peroid.

I tried ADA soil and PS some years back, I think 1997. I did not care for it then but I also did not test it well either.......

Everyone is raging about how great it is, and how much it cost also..........
So I don't mind doing this........

Availability: likely through my site at cost(subscribers).

Regards,
Tom Barr