Tom's special substrate

Tom Barr

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Re: Tom's special substrate

I think you can can easily add sand over top etc. You will need to rinse it very good for awhile before doing that even.

Perhaps a 1/4-1/8 ratio.

It'll be awhile yet before this is worked out to my satisfaction.
I'm not looking forward to suggesting folks need to rinse something MORE than Flourite.

But we shall see.....

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

chubasco

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Jan 24, 2005
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Re: Tom's special substrate

Thanks for the info, Tom. Hate to be tedious, but I presume that's one part
sand to 4-8 parts Tom's Turbosoil? There was an interesting post on APD
today concerning black well fracturing beads. Some proprietary stuff that
Halliburton uses to increase oil flow in well bores, so the guy says. It is black,
2-3mm in diameter and doesn't compact under pressure. If it has the weight
of sand, this would be ideal to mix with your new stuff. Not that it would be
available to someone not working directly or indirectly for Halliburton. :( Of
course, finding out what it's made of would be good :confused:


Bill
 

Tom Barr

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Re: Tom's special substrate

I have a feeling it ain't cheap either..............Halli does charge the tax payer through the nose:)

But it does sound ideal, I posted something to the same effect a few years ago to Greg at SeaChem.

Cost too much............

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

chubasco

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Re: Tom's special substrate

I was wondering if the beads were ceramic in comp....

Bill
 

Tom Barr

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Re: Tom's special substrate

Hummm...........perhaps 1/16th to 1/8 max, you will need to rinse this stuff till you cannot see straight.
Not the nutrients, the damn tannins.

I let it sit with the hose on in a bucket for a couple of hours.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

chubasco

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Jan 24, 2005
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Re: Tom's special substrate

Tannins are not all that bad for my killie tanks :) 1/8 to 1/16 (TSS to
sand/gravel)? If I'm doing a nano tank, you could send it in an envelope:rolleyes:

Bill
 

Tom Barr

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Re: Tom's special substrate

Sure but the amount of tannis will freak you out.
Rinse it good first.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

Tom Barr

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Re: Tom's special substrate

Sure but it'll be a little while yet before we make this available.
We have found sources for that Dark black Turface, runs about 7.75$ for 50 lbs.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

aquanut415

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Jan 26, 2005
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Re: Tom's special substrate

Tom, are you looking for a location to warehouse the substrate/rocks? I have a warehouse in Tracy, Ca that has plenty of room if you need a place to store the stuff. Let me know if you are interested.

Andrew
 

Tom Barr

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Re: Tom's special substrate

I think we will do drop shipping so that will not be needed.

So far I've found some good alternatives to power sand, but not like Power sand in terms of over all approach.

I could use Turface + nutrients + peat and do the same thing as power sand.
But I want an all in one thing that a new person can simply add and be done with and that does not mix with the top layer without looking decent.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

Simpte

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Feb 17, 2005
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Re: Tom's special substrate

Tom Barr said:
I think we will do drop shipping so that will not be needed.

So far I've found some good alternatives to power sand, but not like Power sand in terms of over all approach.

I could use Turface + nutrients + peat and do the same thing as power sand.
But I want an all in one thing that a new person can simply add and be done with and that does not mix with the top layer without looking decent.

Regards,
Tom Barr

As I'm sure you've been reading in the S.W.O.A.P.E. forum, two of our sources for Turface fell through. We found a very nice alternative to it though in the form of Soilmaster Select. Check out the turface threads and see if it is something you would be interested in for your own substrate. Approx the same cost of Turface but smaller and darker black.
 

Tom Barr

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Re: Tom's special substrate

Yes, might work better than turface.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

Tom Barr

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Re: Tom's special substrate

Well, I'm not so sure it'll do anything different than turface except be available, seems to be the same basic stuff.

I'm after something different than the roasted clay, I'm interested in the semi soft 1/2 baked material, this is more like ADA's aqua soil and something like kitty litter which was popular at one point and worked very well in low nutrient routines(much like ADA's).

I should be getting some shortly.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

shugato

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May 25, 2005
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waiting for your substrate

dear tom
i am also from india and are eager to get your substrate.when will we be able to have it in this part of the world and what will be the shipping charges?
thanks
shugato
 

Tom Barr

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Re: Tom's special substrate

I'm not sure you can get this product in India. Shipping will not be too bad as it's fairly light weight by volume. There is a chance there is a supplier there though.

The Soilmaster grey is sold at turf places that do baseball diamonds.
If you have baseball, you likely have a supplier.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

Laith

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Re: Tom's special substrate

Or maybe it's also used for cricket fields (or do they call them pitches?)? ;)

More likely to have cricket than baseball in India...
 

brad

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Re: Tom's special substrate

Is there still any work being done on this?
 

Tom Barr

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Re: Tom's special substrate

No, see previous post.
ADA's product is easier to get and locate and we have a very good understanding of it and using the soil alone is good.

I'd have to have something specifically made and I do not want to get into making substrates and selling/storing them as well as developing etc.

Too much work and not much $$$.
ADA's line is already doing well, about the same cost as Flourite etc.

Regards,
Tom Barr