Journal Joel Armstrong - My journey

[Yugang]

Trying to understand what the clay breaker may have done in the tank, but I am not a chemist and may be wrong here.

Clay Breaker seems to consist (mainly) of gypsum, CaSO4.2H2O, and for a gardening product probably some unknowns as well. Gypsum has a solubility of 2530 mg/L at 25C. Now we don't know how fast gypsum goes in solution, the time factor, but it looks like Ca and SO4 in excess of 2000 ppm would be a possibility?

Am I getting it wrong here?

EDIT: I am probably getting it wrong, because I guess I should have calculated the molar masses for a correct ppm estimation.

 

[Burr740]

Good move imo. Those diatoms coming back like Terminator bots made it impossible to have much success. Sometimes you just gotta burn it all down and start over

Trying to understand what the clay breaker may have done in the tank, but I am not a chemist and may be wrong here.

Clay Breaker seems to consist (mainly) of gypsum, CaSO4.2H2O, and for a gardening product probably some unknowns as well. Gypsum has a solubility of 2530 mg/L at 25C. Now we don't know how fast gypsum goes in solution, the time factor, but it looks like Ca and SO4 in excess of 2000 ppm would be a possibility?

Am I getting it wrong here?

I believe the million dollar question is what caused the diatoms. Most of the literature names silicates as the main culprit, and it might be in some instances (maybe even this one because we dont know what else mightve been in the claybreaker)

What we know is that new tanks seem to get it, and then it disappears as things mature. To me this implies theres more to it than just silicates being present or not

I wonder if something in the claybreaker prevented normal healthy microorganisms from establishing. Could be the very high concentration Ca and SO4 in the sub, or something else entirely.

Im inclined to believe it was preventing something beneficial from happening rather than just feeding diatoms. Could be totally wrong about that. Its an interesting situation for sure

 

[Unexpected]

Dedicated!

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

 

[Koan]

To get BDBS, I'd need to get it shipped from the US..

Hey for future reference, BlastOne has offices in Sidney Brisbane Melbourne Adelaide Darwin and some other places

Online they sell coal slag blasting Grit, including BDBS , by the pallet only




but I bet you can get smaller quantities locally, or they can direct you to where you might find some.

 

[Joel Armstrong]

Hey for future reference, BlastOne has offices in Sidney Brisbane Melbourne Adelaide Darwin and some other places

Online they sell coal slag blasting Grit, including BDBS, by the pallet only


View attachment 6136

but I bet you can get smaller quantities locally, or they can direct you to where you might find some.

Thank you

I really appreciate you having a look for me.

However, I noticed it's labelled "copper slag", and was unsure of the product.

 

[Koan]

noticed it's labelled "copper slag

Woops sorry, I had scrolled too far down that page. The have the coal slag:

 

[Joel Armstrong]

Woops sorry, I had scrolled too far down that page. The have the coal slag:

View attachment 6137

I see it online, but when I click on the link, I get this

 

[Koan]

I see it online, but when I click on the link, I get this

Well shoot. My page loads differently because my browser senses I'm out of Australia Zone.. maybe that link is for international offerings..

Do you get the same error for the Harsco Coal Slag link on the Slag Abrasives page?

 

[Joel Armstrong]

My page loads differently because my browser senses I'm out of Australia Zone

I thought the same.

Do you get the same error for the Harsco Coal Slag link on the Slag Abrasives page?

Yeah, I do.. same error page..... stupid Australia!!

 

[Joel Armstrong]

@Koan nice of you to look though, cheers!

I'll be planting the tank again in a few days anyway. Will use what I've got.

 

[Joel Armstrong]

Planted, finally

 

[Yugang]

Planted, finally

This looks amazing @Joel Armstrong . Wishing you lots of healthy plant growth, and hopefully never look back at the diatoms.

 

[Joel Armstrong]

This looks amazing @Joel Armstrong . Wishing you lots of healthy plant growth, and hopefully never look back at the diatoms.

Thanks my friend..

 

[FrankZ]

Planted, finally

Looks great man! Can’t wait for it to grow in problem free for you.

 

[Joel Armstrong]

Looks great man! Can’t wait for it to grow in problem free for you.

Cheers mate,

Hopefully I start enjoying the hobby again

This looks amazing @Joel Armstrong . Wishing you lots of healthy plant growth, and hopefully never look back at the diatoms.

I'm sill a bit scarred and don't even like saying or looking at that word that starts with "D"

 

[Art]

@Joel Armstrong it looks fantastic! Well done, man!

 

[Joel Armstrong]

@Joel Armstrong it looks fantastic! Well done, man!

Thank you for your encouraging feedback

I've changed my approach a little, based on Joe's advice regarding water change % and dosing regime. I'm currently doing 55% water changes weekly and dosing 22.5 ppm NO3, 7.5ppm PO4 and 30ppm K in between water changes. Half being dosed on water change day, and the other half split into 2 doses throughout the week.
Using Joe's micros at his recommended amounts of 2ml per 10 gallons, 3 x per week.

 

[Joel Armstrong]

12 days in

 

[Unexpected]

I’m jealous.