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Offlinetorchedlh
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Diatomaceous Earth = Crusher Oystershells?
    #6758268 - 04/07/07 03:31 PM (16 years, 11 months ago)

i went to a hydroponic store and nursery store and asked for crushed oyster shells but both times was pointed to diatomaceous earth. will that work? it seems to be made for killing insects and bugs etc...

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Offlinejaranth
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Re: Diatomaceous Earth = Crusher Oystershells? [Re: torchedlh]
    #6758340 - 04/07/07 03:54 PM (16 years, 11 months ago)

Diatomaceous earth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Diatomaceous earth, also known as DE, diatomite, diahydro, kieselguhr, kieselgur and Celite) is a naturally occurring, soft, chalk-like sedimentary rock that is easily crumbled into a fine white to off-white powder. The typical chemical composition of diatomaceous earth is 86% silica, 5% sodium, 3% magnesium and 2% iron.


It's not calcium, it's silica (Silicon dioxide), so it's more like sand than oyster shell. Plus, it has 3% magnesium... my guess is that you should probably avoid it.

Edited by jaranth (04/07/07 03:57 PM)

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OfflineFlusH
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Re: Diatomaceous Earth = Crusher Oystershells? [Re: torchedlh]
    #6758351 - 04/07/07 03:56 PM (16 years, 11 months ago)

Good question torchedlh,

I too am curious if this will work. I cannot find crushed oyster shells around here and got some diatomaceous earth at a good price, and I can use it on my out-door garden anyway's.

I found this link describing what diatomaceous earth is (http://eap.mcgill.ca/Publications/eap4.htm), but I have not been able to find on this site or google if the two are interchangeable.

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OfflineFlusH
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Re: Diatomaceous Earth = Crusher Oystershells? [Re: jaranth]
    #6758357 - 04/07/07 03:57 PM (16 years, 11 months ago)

Cool!

Will not use it for anything other than the garden then!


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Offlinejaranth
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Re: Diatomaceous Earth = Crusher Oystershells? [Re: FlusH]
    #6758389 - 04/07/07 04:02 PM (16 years, 11 months ago)

OYSTER SHELL FLOUR

Look down the listing under "Miscellaneous".


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Offlinetorchedlh
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Re: Diatomaceous Earth = Crusher Oystershells? [Re: jaranth]
    #6758449 - 04/07/07 04:21 PM (16 years, 11 months ago)

so i guess the answer is no?

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Offlinejaranth
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Re: Diatomaceous Earth = Crusher Oystershells? [Re: torchedlh]
    #6758495 - 04/07/07 04:34 PM (16 years, 11 months ago)

Crushed oyster shells = calcium, which is used to buffer your casings and keep the pH level where it needs to be.

Diatomaceous earth = silica. Effect on pH? Hell I dunno... but I know it would only work if silica provides a pH buffer like calcium does.

I'm no chemist, but I'll bet silica (which is more or less like crushed quartz, aka sand) won't work... for one, it isn't going to dissolve into the biomass... but sit in it like gravel, not imparting any sort of chemical change on it at all. At least, that's my guess. That's one reason it's great for pool filters... it only filters the water... it doesn't dissolve into it or change it chemically in any way.  Instead, other chemicals are used to change swimming pool pH (soda ash, muriatic acid, etc.).

And... I believe magnesium is actually poisonous to shrooms in high enough quantity (3% is pretty high). I dunno if the sodium will have any effect, but I've never heard of anyone using sodium in mycology.

So... I could be wrong, but I'd say NO! :thumbdown:  Which is too bad, cause DE is really easy to get around here at any pool supply store year round.

However, use it anyway, and let us know. You might surprise everyone.


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Edited by jaranth (04/07/07 04:41 PM)

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OfflineRogerRabbitM
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Re: Diatomaceous Earth = Crusher Oystershells? [Re: jaranth]
    #6758736 - 04/07/07 06:19 PM (16 years, 11 months ago)

Crushed oyster shells are calcium carbonate, and DE is fossilized algae. They're not the same thing at all. DE can be added to casing and substrate mixes because it holds many times its weight in water, but it won't effect pH. Of course, crushed oyster shells won't effect pH either. You want oyster shell flour.
RR


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Re: Diatomaceous Earth = Crusher Oystershells? [Re: RogerRabbit]
    #6758795 - 04/07/07 06:37 PM (16 years, 11 months ago)

.....:thumbup:


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Offlinetorchedlh
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Re: Diatomaceous Earth = Crusher Oystershells? [Re: agar]
    #6759425 - 04/07/07 10:08 PM (16 years, 11 months ago)

well i will not use it then. i decided to go 40% coir, 40% peat moss, 10 % vermaculite and 5% and horticultural lime. yea i know i'm missing 5%.

thanks

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