>>> is it to be treated as a soil?

Yes, it is to be treated as soil. As far as I know it is soil, just soil without any NPK.

I have another problem that I'd like to ask you about actually, I've had this going for a year and I've only gotten one crop - Do you know why things are going so slowly? Is it mainly because my light is so far away?

You really can't imagine my appreciation for this help.