Question For Tom Barr

[john starkey]

SORRY TOM NEVER MIND

 

[mlawson]

Any personal questions should really be PM'd to the person, not posted on the forum.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[Dave Spencer]

Hi John, it`s Tom here using Dave`s log in. Sorry, but I don`t think you have a Scooby as to what you are doing and should sell all your kit to Dave at a knock down price. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but at least a great aquascaper like Dave will be able to get the most out of it.

I suggest you stick to purple gravel and sunken treasure chests with bubbles coming out, young man.

Dave......er no, I mean Tom Barr.

 

[cheesy feet]

Hi John, it`s Tom here using Dave`s log in. Sorry, but I don`t think you have a Scooby as to what you are doing and should sell all your kit to Dave at a knock down price. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but at least a great aquascaper like Dave will be able to get the most out of it.

I suggest you stick to purple gravel and sunken treasure chests with bubbles coming out, young man.

Dave......er no, I mean Tom Barr.

I suspect something suspicous!

 

[Underwurlde]

Dave, total give away dude. You havn't used the word 'folks' at all, so you can't be Tom Barr.

Andy

 

[plantbrain]

Very few folks write the way I do
That's likely a good thing too


This is question is fine for public comment, and if you are not me, feel free to offer advice.
It does not have to come from me solely.


I use a few different substrates, it's a very long topic and I'm not going to say everything on line about it either, if you are really interested, you can read the newsletters I put out, they are much more organized and supported.

I like ADA aqua soil the most, not for massive tanks or for folks that uproot a lot, much more for scapers though.

I like Eco complete, still has nice color, somewhat light like ADA, but inert and does well witha wide range of plants when dosing the water column.

You can add N and P to the bottom however, like flourite, Onyx sand, etc.

I like Onyx sand the best truthfully, but that color, ick.......and I'd like it to be the same grain size, about 2mm and round grains, either dark black or a white to slight off white color.

Flourite is nice, no chemistry changes.

Sand is great, 2-3 mm, cost is very cheap, looks good etc, needs to be helped some, soil, other items etc added below for best results, but that can lead to messes.

Soilmaster is a good cheap product here, but not available everywhere.

Hard to say without being more specific about your goal, $ etc.
Most sites give a fair assessment of substrate IMO/IME.

It's algae and nutrients that cause the most ruckus, when it should be lighting(having too much) and CO2(not enough).

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[JamesC]

Great reply Tom. I had to decide what to use some years ago and opted for 2-3mm quartz sand for the main reason it is cheap and also is so easy to plant with as it is fairly heavy and has good grain size. I steered clear of substrates like ADA AS for the one reason I like to replant a lot and didn't want to deal with cloudy water. I do notice that inert substrates take a while to start working well though.

I think 'folks' need to decide what they want to do with their tanks before deciding what substrate they are going to use. It seems these days that everytime someone asks what the best substrate is, they are told to use ADA AS, which may or may not be best for their needs.

James

 

[plantbrain]

Great reply Tom. I had to decide what to use some years ago and opted for 2-3mm quartz sand for the main reason it is cheap and also is so easy to plant with as it is fairly heavy and has good grain size. I steered clear of substrates like ADA AS for the one reason I like to replant a lot and didn't want to deal with cloudy water. I do notice that inert substrates take a while to start working well though.

I think 'folks' need to decide what they want to do with their tanks before deciding what substrate they are going to use. It seems these days that everytime someone asks what the best substrate is, they are told to use ADA AS, which may or may not be best for their needs.

James

My name is not Tom, it's Dave.
You think I'm some degrade from the colonies?
hehe
Well, we did come from Scotland, and there is a Barr's Tavern that we are directly related to there. Been here since 1640, quite sometime I suppose.

Yes, dirty old sand is what I used fro many years, old dutch secret.
If you deep vaccum the gravel you have, and save and add thast dirt ot the new tank, it will function similarly.

But yes, ADA is not the solution for everyone by any means.
Nor is adding CO2, not lots of light, nor fast growing weeds, nor many of the issues, creation is a choice, you need to define the goal, then go from there.

I am very aware of that, and while many judge me, I try to help folks focus on their goals, they often will say that they want to learn about something/issue etc.

I suggest some things, they do not like it and get mad at me personally.
However, the advice is spot on if that was truly their goal.

I meet many that are looking for little work load, easy maintenance etc, I suggest non CO2 as often as CO2, perhaps more so.

But they see an ADA tank, or your tank or some tank that uses CO2, and like a bug to light bulb at night, they are drawn to it.

I do understand, I was like that and most that use CO2 still are.

Some have argued and they are correct to large extent, that adding soil or nutrient rich amendments to the sand below is an easier way and perhaps slightly cheaper method of fertilizing some plant species.

Over time, things will change, but that is true with most methods, although the water column dose is easier maintain over longer time frames. But you have to dose there weekly etc or more.

Many of us are bad with some things like that. Some are lazy or unmotivated. Some are smart and lazy

There is a definite human factor and it's seldom and rarely discussed.
Their goal, what they want, not you, not me, not anyone, what is the easiest way for them to get there and what are the trade offs and issues for their options.

Regards,
Tom .......err Dave Spencer, Barr

 

[baboo_jenge]

i am so confused... 0_0

 

[Underwurlde]

I try to help folks focus on their goals

LOL

Tom, total give away dude. You have used the word 'folks', so you must be Tom Barr and not Dave Spencer.

Yes, good reply. If one thing still confuses me it's substrates. It also confuses me as to why 'the good ones' are SOOOO damn expensive.

Andy

 

[plantbrain]

Shipping high weight products around is mainly transport cost, not product cost.

Large rocks are cheap, but moving them is very costly.
Same with wood etc.

Regards,
Tom Barr