Azomite vs. Sea-Crop - Organic Hydro - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

acidophilus · 07-29-2010, 08:28 AM

well, I was trying to aquire some Sea-Crop, but I got tricked into buying a bag of SEA-90 instead. this seems like a nice thing to foliar feed once in a while, but I don't think I want it in my rez.

anyway, in my continuing quest for Sea-Crop I came across a garden-shop clerk who said "why don't u just use Azomite instead"
I did a bit of research, and it seems like a reasonable proposition, so I'm currently giving it a shot.
1/2 cup of Azomite in a 40gal rez is what I've started with. (its a blind guess, and I'm a bit afraid it might be way too much). I'm still curious about Sea-Crop, but the more I read, Azomite seems like it might be a better product all around. its certainly easier to find.

any opinions?

my goal is to find a good way to load my solution with trace elements and micro-nutrients, and also provide Calcium and Magnesium in the appropriate quantaties. is Azomite complete? the plants seem happy enough. I give seaweed also.

grapeman · 07-29-2010, 08:52 AM

I use it in my soil. It's just as described.... trace elements. Can't say about hydro. Interesting question though.

joedub · 07-29-2010, 12:45 PM

I'm in a very similar situation, I also got the sea 90, and have been using it as a supplemental to hydro, but I've been wanting to go azomite because sea 90 has sodium in it. so I did the same research which also led me to azomite, I will finish using my sea90 for now, but will most likely use azomite based on your experiences since your one step ahead of me. good luck w/ your grow

07-29-2010, 06:41 PM

Sea-Crop and Azomite are different products but kind of similar. You're talking about 2 different sources also...land and sea. While SC is about 80% water, 4% magnesium and 3.5% sodium chloride Azomite is 65% silicon dioxide, 11.5% alumina and 2% sodium oxide. Azomite also contains 3.5% calcium oxide and 5% potassium oxide.

Interesting for Azomite is they say a 6.5% loss on 'incineration' so guess they have some type of drying process. Basically it's an old volcanic deposit. I've talked to the people at the local Aqua Serene store (Roots Organics) and the dude recommended adding some Azomite to the res when running their organic nutes in hydro.

As for trace mineral concentration SC is far superior and much more concentrated in that respect. Another thing about SC is there's some marine bacteria that survive the production process. These are heavy duty critters that would be a good addition to a hydro res, especially one running salt ferts, and also good for soil applications as at least one strain is a strong N fixer.

The elements in SC are basically ionic and readily available. Azomite works fine if you have a healthy soil microlife or good culture in your res. You can foliar feed with SC.

I don't see that one replaces the other and if anything they are complimentary but if I had to pick one it'd be SC for various reasons. I do know of one crop consultant who uses both SC and Azomite on the fields he manages. I'm not a sea salt fan and don't care for Sea-90.

IwannatokeNbone · 07-29-2010, 11:30 PM

yeah the idea that azomite in a sterile medium just goes right on feeding your plants isnt really the case.

acidophilus · 07-30-2010, 01:49 AM

thanks for the input everyone.
really appreciate this expert knowledge mr. Y.G. I was hoping to solicit your advice

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yankee Grower

Azomite is 65% silicon dioxide, 11.5% alumina and 2% sodium oxide. Azomite also contains 3.5% calcium oxide and 5% potassium oxide.

is Alumina dangerous at all? I'd like to keep my medicine effective in preventing alziemers diseas...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yankee Grower

Interesting for Azomite is they say a 6.5% loss on 'incineration' so guess they have some type of drying process.

I looked up Alumina on google, and the Fertilizer Encyclopedia says that there are two forms of Alumina, a stable a-Alumina and an unstable y-Alumina. apparently heating at 1150c will convert the unstable stuff into the stable a-Alumina. maybe thats why they heat it?

the same book says that 3-4% is the maximum acceptable concentration of Alumina in soil. apparently there is some in rock phosphate too.

https://books.google.com/books?id=GP1...lizers&f=false

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yankee Grower

Another thing about SC is there's some marine bacteria that survive the production process. These are heavy duty critters that would be a good addition to a hydro res,

this was my suspicion. the so-called 'archeia' or whatever you mentioned in a different thread? I'll keep looking for Sea-Crop. can u convince AquaSerene to carry it? ive just moved to the area...

as for SEA-90, I gave foliar feeding some days ago, and I like the results. I'm thinking once a month maybe during veg. foliar feeding only though. it feels like it adds an extra bit of hardiness. maybe a touch of sodium even helps? I'm outdoors, without having used neem yet, and there doesn't seem to be an issue with bugs at all. (I was doing the zone/penetrator thing also, so that might be more relavent)

07-30-2010, 02:49 AM

As for alzheimer's recent research indicates it's more about the Ca/Mg:Al/Fe ratio than simply just aluminum. From what I understand the Ca/Mg:Al/Fe ratio of modern ag crops is messed up and you'll see the same ratio in the brains of alzheimer's patients. When soil pH drops below a certain point Al and Fe intake goes up. Alzheimer's may be caused, or at least strongly influenced, by modern ag practices.

Don't know if that's why they 'incinerate' Azomite during production or simply they are just trying to determine the moisture content or 'loss on drying'. Funny they use the word 'incinerate' because not what I'm used to when dealing with labs and moisture levels. 3-4% max alumina content in soil is much different than using a small amount of something like Azomite that has an alumina content of 11.5%.

If you want a hard core archae product get Biozome but yeah there is something(s) living in Sea-Crop but only part of it's benefit. Sea-Crop currently cannot sit on any retail store shelf even though it's certified for use in organic agriculture by WSDA and OTCO but that's another story.

07-30-2010, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acidophilus

as for SEA-90, I gave foliar feeding some days ago, and I like the results. I'm thinking once a month maybe during veg. foliar feeding only though. it feels like it adds an extra bit of hardiness. maybe a touch of sodium even helps? I'm outdoors, without having used neem yet, and there doesn't seem to be an issue with bugs at all. (I was doing the zone/penetrator thing also, so that might be more relavent)

Sea-90 is basically whole natural sea salt. Dr. Murray did enough research to show the stuff does provide benefits but all that sodium is simply not necessary. For one Na displaces Ca, Mg and K cations in soil. It's rare to come across a situation where Na supplementation is required. I think sea salt in hydro can work OK. As for foliar feeding you can use up to 4 oz of Sea-Crop per gallon applied weekly with no problems.

acidophilus · 07-30-2010, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yankee Grower

Sea-Crop currently cannot sit on any retail store shelf even though it's certified for use in organic agriculture by WSDA and OTCO but that's another story.

sounds like an interesting story...

so, I'd like to try Sea-Crop one day, but it sounds like I'm relatively ok with just the Azomite? I'm using the granular stuff, and I'm shocked how quickly it dissolves. I doubt its becoming ionic immediately, but it seems like a faster release than one would imagine...

City Twin · 07-31-2010, 10:16 PM

Sea-Crop, originally “C-Crop“, is made by a sodium hydroxide precipitation process similar to this video, making a concentrate from Dead Sea salt.

5 min 55 second YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MYR8...eature=related

Another popular starting material for similar products is Great Salt Lake salt

I like Azomite for years now. It’s a different material all together, stated as being a volcanic ash clay containing the life elements of an inland salt sea an eruption smothered. The volcanic ash would be high in noble metals and especially platinoids, while the inland sea portion would be heavy in biologically preprocessed minerals. Sometimes referred to as Bio-Available.

The volcanic would be quite energetic and the inland sea would hold lots of sleeping goodies found by Gaston Naessens. IF you follow that sort of stuff.

pH 8, to keep in mind.

Quote:

Originally Posted by acidophilus

my goal is to find a good way to load my solution with trace elements and micro-nutrients,

I think I would look into humic shale based mineral concentrates for direct use in hydro. All the minerals in these products are purported to be readily Bio-Available, supposedly having come from exclusively plant sources

07-29-2010, 08:28 AM	#1
acidophilus New Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 19	Azomite vs. Sea-Crop well, I was trying to aquire some Sea-Crop, but I got tricked into buying a bag of SEA-90 instead. this seems like a nice thing to foliar feed once in a while, but I don't think I want it in my rez. anyway, in my continuing quest for Sea-Crop I came across a garden-shop clerk who said "why don't u just use Azomite instead" I did a bit of research, and it seems like a reasonable proposition, so I'm currently giving it a shot. 1/2 cup of Azomite in a 40gal rez is what I've started with. (its a blind guess, and I'm a bit afraid it might be way too much). I'm still curious about Sea-Crop, but the more I read, Azomite seems like it might be a better product all around. its certainly easier to find. any opinions? my goal is to find a good way to load my solution with trace elements and micro-nutrients, and also provide Calcium and Magnesium in the appropriate quantaties. is Azomite complete? the plants seem happy enough. I give seaweed also.
	Quote

07-29-2010, 11:30 PM	#5
IwannatokeNbone I luv making new crosses, ive got fuck all a clue what im doing but its fun as hell Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 802	yeah the idea that azomite in a sterile medium just goes right on feeding your plants isnt really the case.
	Quote 1 members found this post helpful.

07-29-2010, 08:52 AM	#2
grapeman Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,198	I use it in my soil. It's just as described.... trace elements. Can't say about hydro. Interesting question though.
	Quote

07-29-2010, 12:45 PM	#3
joedub Aeroponic Kush Farmer Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 66	I'm in a very similar situation, I also got the sea 90, and have been using it as a supplemental to hydro, but I've been wanting to go azomite because sea 90 has sodium in it. so I did the same research which also led me to azomite, I will finish using my sea90 for now, but will most likely use azomite based on your experiences since your one step ahead of me. good luck w/ your grow
	Quote

07-29-2010, 06:41 PM	#4
Yankee Grower Guest Posts: n/a	Sea-Crop and Azomite are different products but kind of similar. You're talking about 2 different sources also...land and sea. While SC is about 80% water, 4% magnesium and 3.5% sodium chloride Azomite is 65% silicon dioxide, 11.5% alumina and 2% sodium oxide. Azomite also contains 3.5% calcium oxide and 5% potassium oxide. Interesting for Azomite is they say a 6.5% loss on 'incineration' so guess they have some type of drying process. Basically it's an old volcanic deposit. I've talked to the people at the local Aqua Serene store (Roots Organics) and the dude recommended adding some Azomite to the res when running their organic nutes in hydro. As for trace mineral concentration SC is far superior and much more concentrated in that respect. Another thing about SC is there's some marine bacteria that survive the production process. These are heavy duty critters that would be a good addition to a hydro res, especially one running salt ferts, and also good for soil applications as at least one strain is a strong N fixer. The elements in SC are basically ionic and readily available. Azomite works fine if you have a healthy soil microlife or good culture in your res. You can foliar feed with SC. I don't see that one replaces the other and if anything they are complimentary but if I had to pick one it'd be SC for various reasons. I do know of one crop consultant who uses both SC and Azomite on the fields he manages. I'm not a sea salt fan and don't care for Sea-90.
	Quote

07-30-2010, 02:49 AM	#7
Yankee Grower Guest Posts: n/a	As for alzheimer's recent research indicates it's more about the Ca/Mg:Al/Fe ratio than simply just aluminum. From what I understand the Ca/Mg:Al/Fe ratio of modern ag crops is messed up and you'll see the same ratio in the brains of alzheimer's patients. When soil pH drops below a certain point Al and Fe intake goes up. Alzheimer's may be caused, or at least strongly influenced, by modern ag practices. Don't know if that's why they 'incinerate' Azomite during production or simply they are just trying to determine the moisture content or 'loss on drying'. Funny they use the word 'incinerate' because not what I'm used to when dealing with labs and moisture levels. 3-4% max alumina content in soil is much different than using a small amount of something like Azomite that has an alumina content of 11.5%. If you want a hard core archae product get Biozome but yeah there is something(s) living in Sea-Crop but only part of it's benefit. Sea-Crop currently cannot sit on any retail store shelf even though it's certified for use in organic agriculture by WSDA and OTCO but that's another story.
	Quote