Safety of substrate - Ecoearth from brick has a chemical smell after water added

[LisaD]

I bought several packs of three Ecoearth bricks on Amazon. Each three-pack was sealed by shrink wrap. I put the brick in a clean bucket, added water to one brick and it quickly swelled. I have a nice bucket full of good looking Ecoearth. BUT it has a smell, not an earth smell, more of a chemical smell. Is this normal? I have let it sit a couple days and the smell has lessened. Anyone else notice this? I'm hesitant to use it, unless this is normal. The smell is a little bit like acetone.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Hmm never had this issue before at pet store, is it a lot cheaper on amazon? I’d let it air out but not completely and see if it’s any better . If it smells really bad maybe try and get refund from amazon, dono. So bizzare 7-$9 a 3 peice brick in pet supplies

 

[MikeyD]

It's not soil it's ground coconut husk so it wont smell like soil. I have noticed the same thing before but never experienced any problems.
Found this in a material data sheet.
Coconut fiber has a slight, unpleasant odor. A conspicuous musty odor indicates moisture damage inside the bales. Since coconut fiber may easily cause odor-tainting, it must not be stowed together with odor-sensitive products (e.g. foodstuffs).

 

[Mpmackenna]

Id order a different batch and compare. Id also put feeders on it for a while and see if they die or get lethargic. Not worth killing a T over 10 bucks of substrate. Ive never had a batch of ecoearth smell like chemicals and ive used it for decades.

 

[cold blood]

I am always amazed that people buy these bricks....what a massive hassle.

To me its like buying a car from a dealership unassembled.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

I am always amazed that people buy these bricks....what a massive hassle.

To me its like buying a car from a dealership unassembled.

I bought several packs of three Ecoearth bricks on Amazon. Each three-pack was sealed by shrink wrap. I put the brick in a clean bucket, added water to one brick and it quickly swelled. I have a nice bucket full of good looking Ecoearth. BUT it has a smell, not an earth smell, more of a chemical smell. Is this normal? I have let it sit a couple days and the smell has lessened. Anyone else notice this? I'm hesitant to use it, unless this is normal. The smell is a little bit like acetone.

Better safe than sorry, always. If you hear clearly an acetone sort of smell, don't. After all (well this at least here where I live) substrate is so damn cheap, so why risk even if there's a 0.01%?

 

[Mpmackenna]

I am always amazed that people buy these bricks....what a massive hassle.

To me its like buying a car from a dealership unassembled.

I don't find putting a brick in a pot and going to bed to be a hassle at all. The bricks are usually cheaper, store easier, and when ordered ship cheaper than the bags. I prefer it to pretty much everything else. I make what I need and the rest stores easy.
I know you buy 40lb bags of dirt, but not everyone has the need or wishes to store 40 lb bags of dirt.

Tomato, tomato... (insert different pronunciation)

By the way, I dont assemble regular cars but when I buy RC cars I buy the kits and assemble them myself.

And....

I dont always drink beer, but when I do I drink Dos Equis Amber....

 

[cold blood]

I know you buy 40lb bags of dirt, but not everyone has the need or wishes to store 40 lb bags of dirt.

At $1.37 for 40lbs, its the cheapest option. All one needs to do is dump it in....and the bag can be stored pretty much anywhere (closet, attic, basement, garage, freezer, even outside in a shed, and at any temp, for as long as you need, decades even. No buckets full of wet sub to mess with, no need to dry the stuff out to use.....to me that stuff really is a hassle, I am glad you are fine with t....lol.....I am not.

Here's the thing, you say not everyone needs that much, but those bricks expand to a large amount...so, its horse a piece there. Ether way you have extra.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

I don't find putting a brick in a pot and going to bed to be a hassle at all. The bricks are usually cheaper, store easier, and when ordered ship cheaper than the bags. I prefer it to pretty much everything else. I make what I need and the rest stores easy.
I know you buy 40lb bags of dirt, but not everyone has the need or wishes to store 40 lb bags of dirt.

Tomato, tomato... (insert different pronunciation)

The problem with bricks for me is that they take forever to dry

Thankfully, here in Italy (ok, another nation and everything) substrate is very cheap, the price difference between a brick and a 1 KG bag of ready to use substrate (coco fiber or Irish moss peat only) is a nothing.

 

[Mpmackenna]

I've used everything in the past 20+ years. I've blended peat moss and vermiculite to make my own, I've used dirt, I've used bags of Eco-earth and the bricks. Lately I've been using the bricks.
I also like death metal and sometimes I smoke cigars. Sometimes I listen to death metal and smoke while I watch coco-fiber hydrate. I'm one crazy dude.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

I've used everything in the past 20+ years. I've blended Peat Moss and Vermiculite to make my own, I've used dirt, I've used bags of Eco-earth and the bricks. Lately I've been using the bricks.
I also like death metal and sometimes I smoke cigars. Sometimes I listen to death metal and smoke while I watch coco-fiber hydrate. I'm one crazy dude.

The old school Death Metal one, like Chuck Schuldiner 'Death'?

 

[Nightstalker47]

I am always amazed that people buy these bricks....what a massive hassle.

To me its like buying a car from a dealership unassembled.

Did you really just compare assembling an automobile to placing a brick of sub in water?

 

[cold blood]

I've used everything in the past 20+ years. I've blended peat moss and vermiculite to make my own, I've used dirt, I've used bags of Eco-earth and the bricks. Lately I've been using the bricks.
I also like death metal and sometimes I smoke cigars. Sometimes I listen to death metal and smoke while I watch coco-fiber hydrate. I'm one crazy dude.

I've also used them all as well...I tend to listen to the dead though

Did you really just compare assembling an automobile to placing a brick of sub in water?

Did you not find that to be an amusing exaggeration?

 

[Mpmackenna]

The old school Death Metal one, like Chuck Schuldiner 'Death'?

Yep. Good stuff, but I spent more time listening to Napalm Death and Cannibal Corpse.
Lately Ive been spinning Six Feet Under, Obituary, Goat Whore, and TBDM. Its an eclectic sampling.
Apologies to OP for thread jack.

I've also used them all as well...I tend to listen to the dead though

I can dig some Dead. Had a chance to see Jerry at one of his last shows in Chicago. Passed on it thinking "I'll catch him next time". Total bummer.

@cold blood hmmm new profile pic... last one had one fish, this one has two fish, I suspect next will be a Red Drum, and then a Blue Cat.
After that comes Green Eggs and Ham, Sam I am.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

@cold blood hmmm new profile pic... last one had one fish, this one has two fish, I suspect next will be

Next will be, straight from (new) Lake Tiberias, Packerland, Northern USA, a multiplication of fish

 

[StampFan]

At $1.37 for 40lbs, its the cheapest option. All one needs to do is dump it in....and the bag can be stored pretty much anywhere (closet, attic, basement, garage, freezer, even outside in a shed, and at any temp, for as long as you need, decades even. No buckets full of wet sub to mess with, no need to dry the stuff out to use.....to me that stuff really is a hassle, I am glad you are fine with t....lol.....I am not.

Here's the thing, you say not everyone needs that much, but those bricks expand to a large amount...so, its horse a piece there. Ether way you have extra.

What he said, except for me it is peat moss instead of dirt. I don't get the appeal of that whole process of brick expansion when there are cheaper, less intrusive options.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I am always amazed that people buy these bricks....what a massive hassle.

To me its like buying a car from a dealership unassembled.

+1 it’s a pain and expensive!!
I occasionally use it but I’ve had more issues from coco fiber then With moss or top soil. I use it rarely. top soil I mainly use I break it up sometimes is it’s softer. Top soil is $2 a bag or so.

 

[MetalMan2004]

I have a bag of soil AND a brick (gasp). I also went to the Slayer, Anthrax, Lamb of God concert a couple of weeks ago. Phenomenal show.

 

[StampFan]

Nothing about peat moss, but he still hits the high notes for sure. Appeared to be sober too. And Scott Ian runs around like he’s still 20. They’re one of my favorites. Also saw them in 2006. Almost no difference in energy level. In case you were curious, I’m anti, I’m antisocial!

I miss John Bush. I must admit. I like both of those guys doing lead vocals. John passed on lead vocals for Metallica at one point, was glad to see him get his shot with Anthrax. Nothing against Joey, but John has a lot of depth. And to keep it relevant, peat moss in a bale is super cheap, at least here....same as coco without the hassle. And slightly more acidic, so none of that yucky yellow nasty mold.

 

[lostbrane]

I had the same thing happen to me about a month ago. Once it dries/with plenty of ventilation the smell isn't there anymore, even when getting it wet again. At least, that's been the case so far. All the feeders have been fine, and the tarantulas aren't exhibiting any worrying behavior. All that being said, I'm definitely going top soil from now on. I have plenty of places to stash 40 lbs of dirt.

On a side note, I saw Anthrax about 4 years ago, but that was before I was into them. Bit of a mess up there to be sure. Heh.