Photo Essay: Calcined DE as Rooting Medium
- Thread starter mad librettist
- Start date
It's used to absorb oil and for kitty litter. Auto parts store or pet store.
According to Wiki, it's also mined in Germany where it's called "Kieselgur", or "dolomite" is another name.
I believe moltan makes a calcined clay product.
The DE is mined by Eagle Picher.
The DE is mined by Eagle Picher.
yup, thats what they call it in Russia. Kiselgur. I wonder if you can order it from germany in smaller amounts. If not - I dont really mind travelling there for couple of days just to get them products that I lack in this country of no abundance of products.
about calling it Dolomite though.... Im not too sure about that. on wiki when I read about dolomite it pretty much nowhere states that it's also referred to as Calcined DE.... wonder if it really is the same thing. are you sure that it is mate?
use a pencil to make the hole.
dolomite is a naturally occurring mineral. calcined DE is the fossilized remains of diatoms (a type of algae). it can also be called "diatomite."
yup diatomite is what I also heard it be called. Any idea on the differences between Dolomite and Calcined DE benefits for the given subject?
yea i'm pretty sure dolomite is not gonna work for rooting cuts.
I'm sorry, "diatomite".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth
I doubt it is calcined. The hydro shop has been giving samples of calcined but they haven't carried it. What I have isn't. Compared to the samples there doesn't seem a whole lot of difference, the calcined perhaps a little harder, but if they will be worth the extra money...only if you got it I suppose.
We used to use the powdered stuff for our pool filter.
The dust can cause silicosis of the lungs. Screen the stuff in a well ventilated area.
The dust can cause silicosis of the lungs. Screen the stuff in a well ventilated area.
Sgt.Stedenko the pool grade stuff is different, its treated somehow and is bad for you as mentioned.
calcined DE and food grade DE are much less harmful. but of course inhaling any small particle matter is not good for you.
if anyone is worried about the dust, all you need to do is make a bucket with the right sized screen and run water through it. the fines will follow the water to the bottom and out the screen, keeping the good stuff on top.
calcined DE and food grade DE are much less harmful. but of course inhaling any small particle matter is not good for you.
if anyone is worried about the dust, all you need to do is make a bucket with the right sized screen and run water through it. the fines will follow the water to the bottom and out the screen, keeping the good stuff on top.
G
Graham Purwatt
wow,oil dry. who would've thought.do you think it would work good as a replacement for perlite in a hempy bucket as the only medium? i usually use coco with slate in the bottom but was planning using straight perlite for my next go round.this is maybe better
napa 8822 is fired at a high temp.
very good stuff but it is more expensive than perlite.
I respectfully disagree Jay,
Here's the msds for calcined DE.
http://dicalite.com/NEWCalDEMSDS.pdf
This product contains crystalline silica (CS), which is classified as a hazard by inhalation.. Long term inhalation of respirable crystalline silica dusts in excess of the TLV (threshold limit value), over a prolonged period may cause a non-cancerous lung disease (silicosis). Inhalation of respirable crystalline silica has been classified as carcinogenic (Group1) by IARC, a unit of the World Health Organization. Respirable crystalline silica is listed by the NTP as a known human carcinogen.
The stuff used for pool filters is calcined.
The absorbent qualities of diatomite can result in a significant drying of the hands if handled without gloves. The flux-calcined form contains a highly crystalline form of silica, resulting in sharp edges. The sharpness of this version of the material makes it dangerous to breathe and a dust mask is recommended when working with it.
The type of hazard posed by inhalation depends on the form of the silica. Crystalline silica poses a serious inhalation hazard because it can cause silicosis. Amorphous silica can cause dusty lungs, but does not carry the same degree of risk as crystalline silica. Natural or dried diatomite generally contains very low percentages of crystalline silica. Diatomite produced for pool filters is treated with high heat (calcining) and a fluxing agent (soda ash), causing the formerly amorphous silicon dioxide to assume its crystalline form.
Same stuff, different form.
I'm not saying it's bad to use. Just use adequate precations when handling.
