Well, I must believe in this stuff because when you put your hard-earned money (is there any other kind?) down on 300lbs of this stuff, in this case 20 bags for $250.00, you must believe in it. The killer is, as soon as you pay you have to start humping this stuff out to the car, deliver it home, bend over (owe, my back!) to pick it up and out of the trunk and now into the house, etc.
When I lay out that kinda money, I expect a bellhop to appear and...
Nevermind.
Anyway, I've been very happy with this substrate over the years and I know it to be a one time purchase. Switch tanks? Sterilize it if need be in an oven or better yet, a BBQ grill. Now there has been some controversy concerning the use of bleach with this material. The one time I used straight pool chlorine on it the liquid turned quite red/brown -- almost as if I was leeching out ...well, something.
Not good.
There again, it shouldn't be necessary to use straight pool chlorine and a much diluted mix would have undoubtedly done the job of killing all the attached life within without pulling the guts out of this expensive clay.
...and clay it is too, I believe -- a manufacturing origin of Georgia, a state famous for it's red clay and bricks, makes this a dead givaway. It's fired, I'm sure but I wonder if they add anything else? I really should ask Dr. Morin at Seachem about this.
Err...the proper method for sterilizing it, I mean.
Perhaps I will and I'll post his reply -- or better yet -- maybe I'll invite him over here to take the stand himself!
What about you guys -- anybody using this product and loving it? What are your experiences good and bad and what about the black sand-like Onyx? Anyone object to its purported ability to buffer the pH? Think this property was a planned or unplanned bonus or disaster?
When I lay out that kinda money, I expect a bellhop to appear and...
Nevermind.
Anyway, I've been very happy with this substrate over the years and I know it to be a one time purchase. Switch tanks? Sterilize it if need be in an oven or better yet, a BBQ grill. Now there has been some controversy concerning the use of bleach with this material. The one time I used straight pool chlorine on it the liquid turned quite red/brown -- almost as if I was leeching out ...well, something.
Not good.
There again, it shouldn't be necessary to use straight pool chlorine and a much diluted mix would have undoubtedly done the job of killing all the attached life within without pulling the guts out of this expensive clay.
...and clay it is too, I believe -- a manufacturing origin of Georgia, a state famous for it's red clay and bricks, makes this a dead givaway. It's fired, I'm sure but I wonder if they add anything else? I really should ask Dr. Morin at Seachem about this.
Err...the proper method for sterilizing it, I mean.
Perhaps I will and I'll post his reply -- or better yet -- maybe I'll invite him over here to take the stand himself!
What about you guys -- anybody using this product and loving it? What are your experiences good and bad and what about the black sand-like Onyx? Anyone object to its purported ability to buffer the pH? Think this property was a planned or unplanned bonus or disaster?