Clay Kitty Litter Alternative

[Casbah]

Oil-dri says silica and can harm your lungs if you breath it.

This is why I recommended reading the label first. The NAPA stuff I use has <1% of silica and lists 100% Diatomaceous Earth as ingredients.

Regardless, I rinse it thoroughly to keep down the dust and remove any residue.

 

[mrsclem]

It seems there are several different brands of oil-dri. The ingredient list for what I purchased was 100% clay.

 

[BittenSCW]

Could it be the type of potting pot used allowed too much kitty litter to seep out causing the cloudiness? When I used kitty litter I used a nursery plant pot (black with 3/4 drainage holes on outside bottom rim). I also covered the holes with coffee filters allowing water to circulate but keep in the kitty litter. I never used a mesh basket.
Just my 2 cents!

 

[Lisak1]

Could it be the type of potting pot used allowed too much kitty litter to seep out causing the cloudiness? When I used kitty litter I used a nursery plant pot (black with 3/4 drainage holes on outside bottom rim). I also covered the holes with coffee filters allowing water to circulate but keep in the kitty litter. I never used a mesh basket.
Just my 2 cents!

Good catch! A mesh basket would have a hard time holding almost any plant media inside, unless it was hard packed.

 

[mgmine]

When I replanted my lilies this year I didn't have any kitty litter so I used regular dirt. What a mistake. The next day the pond was so muddy I couldn't see an inch down. After running the filter for a week I resorted to having to set up a separate two stage filter to clean up the mess. I did a youtube video on it. Once cleaned up I headed to Walmart and bought a bag of kitty litter. Even with some of the litter spilling out the pond remained crystal clear so clear in fact that the only thing I see is the white kitty litter on the bottom. I'll never make the mistake of using dirt again!

 

[addy1]

Any time I add the litter the dust floats out and is gone within a day. I never pre-rinse the litter and as others of said the clay dust is good for the pond.

 

[kathy]

We have a filter with 70 anoxic filter baskets (9" x 9" water plant baskets) filled with kitty litter from Walmart (100% clay). I prerinsed many times and still had cloudy water for a bit, mostly in the filter. After a while, it cleared up.

 

[bettasngoldfish]

Here is what I use

Pondcare Aquatic Planting Media 25LB. Bag Easy to use planting media for all aquatic plants. It is comprised of a unique blend of natural minerals, including Zeolite which securely holds the plants in its container so that the plants can form a strong root system. Zeolite adds the benefit of high nutrients-holding capacity. Does not float, cloud water or clog filters.
Brand: API