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Post by ontariotraps on Oct 8, 2014 12:09:50 GMT -5
I read on an Australian web site if your sand fizzes don't use it because it's to alkaline..... So what should I do? Can't get any other silica sand than this
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Post by lloyd on Oct 8, 2014 12:50:27 GMT -5
Describe your methods. If you added an acid (vinegar?) and it fizzed, it's mixed with CaCO3 (limestone) and will be toxic to CP's. You could wash it with water or dilute acid until it no longer fizzes. Or you could keep looking. I looked for ages without finding anything (GTA) but King canuk1w1 found some right away.
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Post by canuk1w1 on Oct 8, 2014 14:11:02 GMT -5
Too kind sir... Hardly straight away, there was about 3 hours consecutive, focused searching, bracketed by another 2/3 hours of general futzing around and follow up over 3 weeks (not including a few fruitless hours searching months ago, including calls to lots of building and sandblasting supply in the 416 area code). Did I ever think I'd find it as "well gravel" at a commercial plumbing supply? Ours comes from near Lake Huron so I reckon there must be someone in the London area stocking it. You could try substituting perlite for silica. Given my experiences with both perlite and playsand (horticultural sand, bonsai sand, any sand that fizzes with acetic acid) I would use an LFS/peat mix at around 75% LFS, 50/50 max (caveat: I don't like using too much peat in my mix, but I feel a little is invaluable). Pure LFS will also work well but can get expensive, I use that for sensitive/tricky plants or species that call for it (most South American 'dews for example). Ravenvision orchid supplies are based in London and you can mail order LFS from them. J&N Orchid Supplies are out there too and they have very good prices on bulk LFS plus shipping.
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Post by Dennis A(cook1973) on Oct 8, 2014 14:26:28 GMT -5
Would boiling pure water and letting this fizzing sand soak in this overnight do anything?? maybe use dish liquid or something?
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Post by ontariotraps on Oct 8, 2014 15:06:17 GMT -5
Funny enough !! Before my 3rd batch of Sarracenia I spent 3 days calling contracting stores, plumbing, auto painting places, gravel pits, ha ha & still came up empty handed so I did post a thread asking a couple people that went splits on some a while ago on the forum but I don't think anyone could help, I did find some aquarium natural gravel said silica dust toxic #5 on the bag 1/8 - 1/16 of inch I think 25.99 a 50 lb bag, I did the vinager test let it sit for a couple days & there was no fizz so I used it, my first bag from the pool store last November was perfect sand nice size & no fizzing & then I went back 4 months ago & that's all it is fizz & there is tiny black rocks & the sand is way smaller, so now I got sand that I can't use & some Darlingtonia on the way in a couple days !! Really sucks !!
ok for Darlingtonia I have a bunch of New Zealand dried dead Long fiber what's the mix ratio for LFSM to perlite ?
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Post by ontariotraps on Oct 8, 2014 15:16:11 GMT -5
I used vinager oh ya the aquarium gravel 1/8. To 1/16
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Post by Dennis A(cook1973) on Oct 8, 2014 16:09:35 GMT -5
Aquarium sand?? here a 6 pound bag is around 10 dollars and it is dustless and non toxic and there is white,black and a variety of colors
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Post by ontariotraps on Oct 8, 2014 16:20:31 GMT -5
Well that's my only option I'm going to get the aquarium stuff is 1/8 to 1/16 to big ? & what's the LFSM & perlite mix ratio ?
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Post by lloyd on Oct 8, 2014 16:25:39 GMT -5
Darlingtonia-1:1 perlite/LFS. I don't think anyone uses sand for darlingtonia.
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