A new Black Substrate by Aquariumplants.com

[esarkipato]

Originally Posted by spypet

what a self serving review... sure any tank with fresh substrate AND fert tabs will do better than old eco and old flourite... give me a break.

I can appreciate a skeptic, but sheesh....

How about you give yourself a cost-benefit analysis: by saving money NOT buying 5 bags ECO complete you can afford to add fertilizer tabs to this new substrate.

OR, why doesn't someone just bite the bullet (hint hint) and set up 2 new tanks, one ECO and one aquariumplants.com and do a little test

Anyone know how much shipping is for a "5 gallon" bucket?

[bharada]

Whatever happened to using a ruler as a size reference in pictures?

[spypet]

I was just pointing out the little known fact that a US Nickel is exactly 2mm thick, but I'm glad you all had a good laugh instead.
Of course ANY point a measure reference the photographer bothers to place in their picture is greatly appreciated

[Burks]

Originally Posted by spypet

I was just pointing out the little known fact that a US Nickel is exactly 2mm thick, but I'm glad you all had a good laugh instead.

And a Morgan Silver dollar is exactly 3.1mm! Weeeeeeeeeeee Can I have a cookie too?

Just like any hobby when something new comes out there will be people who claim the product is crap before trying it. Or they dismiss any and all claims may by the producer. Just ignore them until someone actually has first hand experience.

[Betowess]

Originally Posted by glass-gardens.com

Take a Milwaukee regulator, swap it's bubble counter for a JBJ bubble counter and slap your name on it ...

Actually, the Aquariumplants.com regulator has a Cornelius regulator, a Clippard needlevalve and Clippard check valve, an Asian Bubblecounter, and a German made solenoid. Its total quality - and if they borrowed the design from anyone, it was from Rex. This is a great regulator.

You maybe talking about their older regulator, which was a Milwaukee knockoff piece of ... But I give them credit for making it WAY better. Probably the best all in one available today (besides Rex's).

[DiabloCanine]

Originally Posted by Betowess

Actually, the Aquariumplants.com regulator has a Cornelius regulator, a Clippard needlevalve and Clippard check valve, an Asian Bubblecounter, and a German made solenoid. Its total quality - and if they borrowed the design from anyone, it was from Rex. This is a great regulator.

You maybe talking about their older regulator, which was a Milwaukee knockoff piece of ... But I give them credit for making it WAY better. Probably the best all in one available today (besides Rex's).

They used to offer the "Top Gun" which was a MA957 with a JBJ bubble counter and an extra o-ring. I do not think they are a POS, I have 4 that work flawlessly.....DC

[glass-gardens.com]

Originally Posted by Burks

Just like any hobby when something new comes out there will be people who claim the product is crap before trying it. Or they dismiss any and all claims may by the producer. Just ignore them until someone actually has first hand experience.

The counter to that of course is that far too many companies have made claims that are complete BS hype, and consumers who ask for hard data aren't saying it's crap, they simply want proof of the claims, which is an entirely reasonable request. Personally if someone makes a claim about their product but doesn't to provide legitimate data to back it up, that pretty much tells you the company is hiding something.

Too many times people have jumped on a bandwagon and followed the herd, only to find the wheels are flat a mile down the road.

As for the former "Top Gun", they came out with it at a time when there was a lot of debate about the quality of the Milwaukee compared to the JBJ, and they didn't didn't market it as a modified Milwaukee, they claimed they made it themselves in their "manufacturing facilities.

[Robert H]

According to the review that appeared yesterday, it's been out for well over a month.

Yes, the review was written before the product came out apparently. Look, the claims made by any company of a substratre are very hard to prove. Its very hard to test. Its even harder without a guranteed analysis. Nobody even knows what this is made out of. The only reason anyone is taking this the least bit seriously is because of the price. If I could find a fine black gravel in bulk and throw it in a five gallon bucket, I could make the same claims. Even Amano's substrates are vague at best.

There is nothing wrong with Flourite or Eco Complete. We know they are made out of clay. We know clay provides iron and other minerals. Pretty cut and dry. Does anyone know what Soilmaster is made of? If aquariumplants comes out with more verifiable information, then people can make a more intelligent desicion. If it really is an all inclusive fertilizer substrate medium that doesn't cloud the water and does all they say it does, then they are buying it in bulk from someone, and eventually other people will find out that source.

[DiabloCanine]

Originally Posted by Robert H

Does anyone know what Soilmaster is made of?

Fracted clay. According to a distributer I purchased from "select" is fired longer......DC

[Betowess]

Originally Posted by DiabloCanine

They used to offer the "Top Gun" which was a MA957 with a JBJ bubble counter and an extra o-ring. I do not think they are a POS, I have 4 that work flawlessly.....DC

Yeah, I have two (a JBJ and a Milwaukee) which both leak and I won't sell to anyone used. They are each a POS. Neither is over 3 years old.

[Robert H]

According to a distributer I purchased from "select" is fired longer

Is that good or bad? There is just so much hype around substrates, I have just never wanted to get involved in it. I toyed with the idea of coming up with my own substrate mixes with soil, peat, or worm castings, but decided against it. The idea of of something cheap and easy in a five gallon bucket is intrigueing though. My hat goes off to them for coming up with the idea. It will be interesting to see if they can back any of it up with more data.

Ocean Nutrition came out with a fertilizer line under some Italian guys name, and the response on the internet has been it must all be marketing BS, and I have not read anyone even interested in looking at it seriously, and this is a big, nationwide multi million dollar manufacturer, so I find it rather ironic that people are willing to look seriously at a product from such a small business at a small scale that is't spending millions of dollars in ad campaigns!

[DiabloCanine]

Originally Posted by Robert H

Is that good or bad?

I have used both types, only noticed a slight color difference. Don't know for sure but, might be they fire soilmaster select longer for its water absorption properties for layering, after all it is used as a soil conditioner......DC

[original kuhli]

What's new, most people are looking way past slick marketing...

[BlueRam]

Originally Posted by Betowess

He mentioned he was coming out with a new substrate which would be black in color, like the Eco and the yet to be released Black Flourite by Seachem. Well, I just noticed tonight that they have it for sale. A 5 gallon bucket for $30.00.

If you are going to order this please post on the GSAS.org mailing list to see if anyone will split shipping. (My Eco was acquired this way)

[Burks]

Originally Posted by Robert H

Even Amano's substrates are vague at best.

Yet people use that stuff all the time. Is it the name or is it really that damn good?

Real world experience trumps producer claims any day.