Samurai Soil by CaribSea
Have had this jug of 9lb / 4.08kg of substrate, since the Aquatic Gardeners Association convention in Denver from late April 2017.
In discussing some things with the CaribSea vendor at AGA, and some experiences I had with various substrates, he suggested I try the new one (new at the time), and handed it to me to try out, if I would use it (for free /seems to be around a $40 value). Info regarding the SS is at the bottom of the post if interested, this is the disclaimer, all I said is I would try it out.
It has obviously taken awhile to get to use it. Made a commitment to cut back on the amount of tanks (nearly impossible, lol) to tend to, due to other pressing issues.
This substrate will be replacing the Amazonia Light which was used for about 10-11 months, though sat in a bucket wet (after testing and before getting the PRL shrimp, to get tank set up) for about 8 months.
Having had a hard time with an unfortunate bad water experience killing nearly my whole colony of PRL shrimp, saved/had 27 remain out of 177, I do not wish to use that substrate again possibly contaminated from the water problem.
More info here about the disaster, if interested page 12 post #112
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f129/prl-autumnskys-next-shrimp-adventure-355165-12.html
Another thread re: substrate
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forum...planted-tank-substrate-for-shrimp-366482.html
TEST
Today starting out with this new substrate in a container and will measure the ammonia over the next days/weeks as necessary, to see if I can move my shrimp into a new tank. It is long overdue.
Will have a bucket/container with almost all of it in there and will do a pwc on the bucket if ammonia is detected.
Also will have a container with substrate and do NO pwc for awhile just to see how high the ammonia will go, if there is any.
This is a shrimp and planted tank substrate. The substrate is imbued with CaribSea "Flora-Spore" which active ingredient is the wildly popular, naturally occurring fungi Mycorrhiza. It causes roots to go crazy branching out in the media and getting really strong plant growth. More detail below.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycorrhiza
Texture and heft
These are said to be 3 and 4mm size per the company, looks like a tiny smaller size too maybe 2mm.
VERY hard like tiny stones. In the dry form, or wet for that matter, cannot smash with my thumb. Did manage to smash one with a surgical forceps. It was a sandy powder.
Heavy for the size like little BB's.
Heavy in water, not floaty like my unknown brand shrimp substrate with similar fired balls.
Overall Impression of material
It comes with a small packet of AquaBiotic Botanical
"All natural botanical extracts and beneficial bacteria designed to keep freshwater aquariums clean and clear" laying right on the top /easy to grab out.
Strong and seems like a nice weight to hold plants in the substrate. The variation in sizes seems like it will help hold plants in place too, yet keep tiny spaces in between pieces for root growth.
It is NOT supposed to cause any ammonia in the beginning. It is infused with Mycorrhiza so growing plants in the substrate seems like will be easier.
I wonder if the AquaBiotic Botanical will cause any ammonia since it is supposed to help with faster cycle?
Thoughts on this experiment
With this low tech tank for the PRL, I won't have that many planted plants, maybe a few Crypts and DHG, but it will be interesting to see if there appears to be any better growth. My last substrate Amazonia Light made the plants very happy, even the mosses and Suswassertang growing on rocks, Anubias nana and others with no Ferts added and the pretty low pH, often 6 or less.
Feel free to chime in with experiences if you have ever used SS, or have ideas, thoughts or questions about it.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Other / side info:
After it was given to me I told him I would be relating my experience honestly to friends and hobbyists, as would any hobbyist - there wasn't any conversation about sharing the promotion of the stuff beforehand. Just so you know.
Since I use so many of their products, I am already a fan and advocate of the really nice selection of types of substrate, and been using their sand, the Naturals and Instant Aquarium, SW substrates, as well as lots of Eco Complete, for many years. Other substrates I use are ADA Amazonia Light, Garnet sand aka blasting sand/media not any particular brand, been cutting back on the # of aquariums I have time to keep
You can go to CaribSea.com Freshwater substrates to see info. Has minimal info there - here is the quote from their website
"Samurai Soil
The ideal substrate for shrimp and planted aquaria
This unique, uniformly graded material fits the pH and mineral requirements of the most sensitive freshwater fauna and flora, without the muddy texture and crumbling often seen with other brands.
This complete substrate eco-system is infused with mycorrhizal fungi for enhanced root development, and each package contains a dose of biologicals for a faster and more thorough cycle."
The container has a little bit more information to read.
Have had this jug of 9lb / 4.08kg of substrate, since the Aquatic Gardeners Association convention in Denver from late April 2017.
In discussing some things with the CaribSea vendor at AGA, and some experiences I had with various substrates, he suggested I try the new one (new at the time), and handed it to me to try out, if I would use it (for free /seems to be around a $40 value). Info regarding the SS is at the bottom of the post if interested, this is the disclaimer, all I said is I would try it out.
It has obviously taken awhile to get to use it. Made a commitment to cut back on the amount of tanks (nearly impossible, lol) to tend to, due to other pressing issues.
This substrate will be replacing the Amazonia Light which was used for about 10-11 months, though sat in a bucket wet (after testing and before getting the PRL shrimp, to get tank set up) for about 8 months.
Having had a hard time with an unfortunate bad water experience killing nearly my whole colony of PRL shrimp, saved/had 27 remain out of 177, I do not wish to use that substrate again possibly contaminated from the water problem.
More info here about the disaster, if interested page 12 post #112
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f129/prl-autumnskys-next-shrimp-adventure-355165-12.html
Another thread re: substrate
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forum...planted-tank-substrate-for-shrimp-366482.html
TEST
Today starting out with this new substrate in a container and will measure the ammonia over the next days/weeks as necessary, to see if I can move my shrimp into a new tank. It is long overdue.
Will have a bucket/container with almost all of it in there and will do a pwc on the bucket if ammonia is detected.
Also will have a container with substrate and do NO pwc for awhile just to see how high the ammonia will go, if there is any.
This is a shrimp and planted tank substrate. The substrate is imbued with CaribSea "Flora-Spore" which active ingredient is the wildly popular, naturally occurring fungi Mycorrhiza. It causes roots to go crazy branching out in the media and getting really strong plant growth. More detail below.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycorrhiza
Texture and heft
These are said to be 3 and 4mm size per the company, looks like a tiny smaller size too maybe 2mm.
VERY hard like tiny stones. In the dry form, or wet for that matter, cannot smash with my thumb. Did manage to smash one with a surgical forceps. It was a sandy powder.
Heavy for the size like little BB's.
Heavy in water, not floaty like my unknown brand shrimp substrate with similar fired balls.
Overall Impression of material
It comes with a small packet of AquaBiotic Botanical
"All natural botanical extracts and beneficial bacteria designed to keep freshwater aquariums clean and clear" laying right on the top /easy to grab out.
Strong and seems like a nice weight to hold plants in the substrate. The variation in sizes seems like it will help hold plants in place too, yet keep tiny spaces in between pieces for root growth.
It is NOT supposed to cause any ammonia in the beginning. It is infused with Mycorrhiza so growing plants in the substrate seems like will be easier.
I wonder if the AquaBiotic Botanical will cause any ammonia since it is supposed to help with faster cycle?
Thoughts on this experiment
With this low tech tank for the PRL, I won't have that many planted plants, maybe a few Crypts and DHG, but it will be interesting to see if there appears to be any better growth. My last substrate Amazonia Light made the plants very happy, even the mosses and Suswassertang growing on rocks, Anubias nana and others with no Ferts added and the pretty low pH, often 6 or less.
Feel free to chime in with experiences if you have ever used SS, or have ideas, thoughts or questions about it.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Other / side info:
After it was given to me I told him I would be relating my experience honestly to friends and hobbyists, as would any hobbyist - there wasn't any conversation about sharing the promotion of the stuff beforehand. Just so you know.
Since I use so many of their products, I am already a fan and advocate of the really nice selection of types of substrate, and been using their sand, the Naturals and Instant Aquarium, SW substrates, as well as lots of Eco Complete, for many years. Other substrates I use are ADA Amazonia Light, Garnet sand aka blasting sand/media not any particular brand, been cutting back on the # of aquariums I have time to keep
You can go to CaribSea.com Freshwater substrates to see info. Has minimal info there - here is the quote from their website
"Samurai Soil
The ideal substrate for shrimp and planted aquaria
This unique, uniformly graded material fits the pH and mineral requirements of the most sensitive freshwater fauna and flora, without the muddy texture and crumbling often seen with other brands.
This complete substrate eco-system is infused with mycorrhizal fungi for enhanced root development, and each package contains a dose of biologicals for a faster and more thorough cycle."
The container has a little bit more information to read.
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