Oildri - Substrates

Seagul · 10-21-2009, 10:50 AM

anyone used this stuff?

just bought some.

HOW THE HECK DO I GET THIS STUFF CLEAN!?!?

ive been rinsing and rinsing and rinsing.. i even took a window screen off to screen the stuff..
still getting merky water..

guidance please! haha

davemonkey · 10-21-2009, 11:06 AM

Never heard of it for a substrate. Is this the stuff they put on shop floors to soak up oil spills?

Anyway, let it it a couple days in the tank to see if it clears on its own.

-Dave

Seagul · 10-21-2009, 11:11 AM

its currently in buckets, as my tank is currently up and running with fish and plants.

just trying to get this stuff as clean as possible before i swap it in the tank.

its supposedly similar to SMS or made by the same company?

my initial thought was it looks like kitty litter... but once wet it has a consistancy like fluorite.

davemonkey · 10-21-2009, 11:19 AM

I had SMS and though it looked pretty murky after 1 rinsing. But, the instructions said to rinse only once (came from aquariumplants.com as their plant substrate) so I put it in. The tank was cloudy for a couple days and gradually cleared up on it's own.

My bet is that you've rinsed it well enough (if it's the same type of stuff).

Rastan71 · 10-21-2009, 05:21 PM

Seagul, if you get this worked out and in a tank, can you post some pictures?

scream-aim-fire · 10-21-2009, 06:07 PM

i tryed this in my nano cube, i had aquatic potting soil thru the whole tank which is clay that is fired in a kiln, then i added some oil dri to the back to make a slope because i ran out of aps. you can wash that stuff forever and you will never wash it clear from what i noticed. i think the reason may be that the clay that oil dri is made of possible isnt fired in a kiln, not 100% sure but is the only thing i can think would be the reason it wont wash clear. i have heard of people using special kitty brand plain kitty litter in the red bag from walmart not sure but might work better than oildri. i am currently trying the potting soil layer under gravel layer to see how this dose.

Burks · 10-26-2009, 07:27 AM

I have some of this in a 14g hex that only has Ghost Shrimp in it. After a few days the water was clear but the substrate still moved even with just the brush of a shrimp. Fast forward about 10 days, the substrate barely moves now and is a bit softer.

Take it for what it is worth.

dawntwister · 11-05-2009, 09:30 PM

If you can't it to work try river sand. I just sifted it and put it in the tank. Cost only $3 from landscaper.