Ch3fb0yrdee Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 Just spent some time to read this thread. ControSoil seems interesting and I really like the fact that the grains have more uniformity than ada. Wondering to clear up some stuff. For folks using it, does it buff ph down or doesn't it. Also, is ControSoil = Brightwell which ControSoil is indicated as a "made in japan" on amazon. Can someone chime in and assist me. Thinking of buying a bag (on amazon) and trying it out for one of my tank to breed RedBees Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glasshalffull Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 It does buffer ph it keeps mine in the low 6s I have the brightwell but I've read in several places that it and the controsoil are the same I know brightwell was available stateside are little earlier not sure if there are any differences between the two Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidPolur Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 I don't know but every thread on this stuff keeps me clicking and scrolling for the tenth time to get an answer I haven't even formulated a question to! It feels like everyone (including myself with 3 bags of it "about" to be used for last month or longer) is excited hopeful and slightly nervous so you aren't seeing like red pintos or higher ends TBs in the pics of which I thought more would come. My prediction and it's based on !!nothing scientific at all!! It will fall short of keeping a ph low enough to Breed taiwan bees. I don't understand how I see lots of trustful members refer to up shrimp sand (new) as getting the ph down so low or at all... I love it but the non efficoency on ph buffering /lowering has forced me to stick to ada and now just a little "taste test " with brightwell so I can put thT spark back in making a fresh tank with new stuff!!! Maybe I'll take some pics for once! Lol End of rAnt DAVID Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chibikaie Posted January 25, 2015 Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 I've given up and will be using inert black sand. TOO COMPLICATED. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glasshalffull Posted January 25, 2015 Report Share Posted January 25, 2015 My Tbs are breeding on my brightwell mayphly 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slycat929 Posted January 27, 2015 Report Share Posted January 27, 2015 I feel like my Red TB tank with brightwell has had faster shrimp growth than my other TB tanks that have different substrates. I will be setting up a second brightwell tank for my pandas and BKK too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Droop Posted February 5, 2015 Report Share Posted February 5, 2015 I'd be interested in trying this but does anyone know if it's available in Canada. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumpsmasher Posted February 5, 2015 Report Share Posted February 5, 2015 I'd be interested in trying this but does anyone know if it's available in Canada. AFAIK there is no retailers or distributors here in Canada for Brightwell or Controsoil. The only choices here are ADA, Fluval and Up Aqua Sand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Droop Posted February 5, 2015 Report Share Posted February 5, 2015 Thanks jumpsmasher (badminton player?). So limited up here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jumpsmasher Posted February 5, 2015 Report Share Posted February 5, 2015 Thanks jumpsmasher (badminton player?). So limited up here. yes but not as active as i used to be I forgot about Netlea - if you are out east, you can get it thru AquaInspiration. If you are out west you can try Akadama from one of the bonsai shops in Surrey or Vancouver. Limited yes, but you know ADA, even with some of its drawbacks, work well. And apparently the new fluval stuff is a different formulation and it looks pretty promising - both me and woopderson are currently testing it (see our journals). We are pretty lucky to even have ADA because when i started my first shrimp rack a few years ago i had to bring ADA in from the States. Even if someone manage to get Brightwell or Controsoil thru customs (hard to so with anything called "soil", maybe less so with Brightwell), unless you order it in by the pallet (100+ bags), the freight costs would mean they would automatically be $20-30 more than a bag of ADA - not sure if many people would pay that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r45t4m4n Posted February 5, 2015 Report Share Posted February 5, 2015 I don't know but every thread on this stuff keeps me clicking and scrolling for the tenth time to get an answer I haven't even formulated a question to! It feels like everyone (including myself with 3 bags of it "about" to be used for last month or longer) is excited hopeful and slightly nervous so you aren't seeing like red pintos or higher ends TBs in the pics of which I thought more would come. My prediction and it's based on !!nothing scientific at all!! It will fall short of keeping a ph low enough to Breed taiwan bees. I don't understand how I see lots of trustful members refer to up shrimp sand (new) as getting the ph down so low or at all... I love it but the non efficoency on ph buffering /lowering has forced me to stick to ada and now just a little "taste test " with brightwell so I can put thT spark back in making a fresh tank with new stuff!!! Maybe I'll take some pics for once! Lol End of rAnt DAVID I use up aqua sand, it buffers my RO to 6.2 just fine, nice and stable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyeGuy411 Posted February 5, 2015 Report Share Posted February 5, 2015 I use UP Aqua shrimp sand and it does not buffer at all and never has. Its so funny some say it buffers low and others like me it shows no buffering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soothing Shrimp Posted February 5, 2015 Report Share Posted February 5, 2015 Rye, I've heard some people say it doesn't buffer either. Not sure why as it does just fine for me, and has for more than a couple years. Do you use RO or tap? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyeGuy411 Posted February 5, 2015 Report Share Posted February 5, 2015 When I visited Han we were talking about the UP Aqua sand and yours and others experiences with it buffering. I use RO water with a starting pH of 6.8 added it to the tank after cycling and it didnt lower to 6.2-6.4 until I added peat. Soothing Shrimp and h4n 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricM Posted February 5, 2015 Report Share Posted February 5, 2015 I'd much rather Controsoil or Brightwell over Up Aqua Sand. UpAqua is very expensive. I've had ok experience with it a couple years ago on my desk tank in my office. but I'm also switching over all my tanks to controsoil now from ada. Controsoil was recommended to me by a couple Japanese breeders along with a couple other breeders many months ago. High5's 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Droop Posted February 6, 2015 Report Share Posted February 6, 2015 yes but not as active as i used to be I forgot about Netlea - if you are out east, you can get it thru AquaInspiration. If you are out west you can try Akadama from one of the bonsai shops in Surrey or Vancouver. Limited yes, but you know ADA, even with some of its drawbacks, work well. And apparently the new fluval stuff is a different formulation and it looks pretty promising - both me and woopderson are currently testing it (see our journals). We are pretty lucky to even have ADA because when i started my first shrimp rack a few years ago i had to bring ADA in from the States. Even if someone manage to get Brightwell or Controsoil thru customs (hard to so with anything called "soil", maybe less so with Brightwell), unless you order it in by the pallet (100+ bags), the freight costs would mean they would automatically be $20-30 more than a bag of ADA - not sure if many people would pay that. Haha who has time to play when there's shrimpin to be done. Thanks, I'm in Vancouver. Maybe I'll head out to Surrey and check it out. I tried Vancouver before without any luck. Thanks for the info! I'll be sure to check out your journal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibebian Posted May 8, 2016 Report Share Posted May 8, 2016 Any updates on this substrate? How has it fared over time? I'm still unclear if it is inert or not for planted setups. I'd like to use this for a planted 29gal, and maybe just some amano shrimp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shrimple minded Posted May 8, 2016 Report Share Posted May 8, 2016 Brightwell is not an inert substrate. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svetilda Posted May 8, 2016 Report Share Posted May 8, 2016 I have Britghwell (brown) in 3 tanks: 2.6g Spec with mischling shrimp in it, 5g Chi with Taiwan Bees and mayphly's tibees, and 5.5g with Aura Blues and my "rilli" cherries. I have one tank with ADA and I love Brightwell over amazonia! My tank with amazonia looks somehow dirty where all tanks with Brightwell look clean and nice. I think in all of those tanks ph is about 6.6-6.8. I don't use RO water but mixed of distilled and tap water. ibebian 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibebian Posted May 8, 2016 Report Share Posted May 8, 2016 I think this is the winner and I'll give the brown color a shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coralman24 Posted May 11, 2016 Report Share Posted May 11, 2016 what happened to controsoil? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jadenlea Posted May 14, 2016 Report Share Posted May 14, 2016 Isn't this the stuff that *was* controsoil? then bought out by foster and smith? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricM Posted May 15, 2016 Report Share Posted May 15, 2016 1 hour ago, Jadenlea said: Isn't this the stuff that *was* controsoil? then bought out by foster and smith? nope brightwell and controsoil are not owned by dr.foster smith. The rumor is/was that the company that makes/made controsoil also makes brightwell and oliver knott soil . but now you have an even better option. SL-Aqua substrate. The new #1 selling shrimp soil in the USA! with an unbeatable price. $40 per bag SHIPPED priority mail. http://www.discobee.com/collections/sl-aqua/products/sl-aqua-nature-soil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jadenlea Posted May 15, 2016 Report Share Posted May 15, 2016 LOL Eric. Ill keep that in mind. RIght now Im just using Peat and it seems to work well. So is brightwell the controsoil? I swear I remember hearing that the controsoil was just renamed to the brightwell when it was pulled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricM Posted May 15, 2016 Report Share Posted May 15, 2016 2 hours ago, Jadenlea said: So is brightwell the controsoil? I swear I remember hearing that the controsoil was just renamed to the brightwell when it was pulled no thats not correct. brightwell has been available for years, just never really caught on because its only availability seems to be dr.fostersmith. and between their price and low stock doesnt make it easy for people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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