diatomic powder & wine finings

[SkyCatcher]

Hi,

Does anyone kjnow if these are the "same" thing. I can't get diatomic powder
for my filter in UK but I could easily get wine finings. Would these be
safe?

Sky

[Michi Henning]

"SkyCatcher" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> Does anyone kjnow if these are the "same" thing. I can't get diatomic powder
> for my filter in UK but I could easily get wine finings. Would these be
> safe?

I suspect not. Several finings are used, such as Isinglass (made from
the bladder of the sturgeon fish), gelatin (made from skin, tendons, hoofs,
or bones of cows and pigs), and albumen (egg white). Adding any of
these would likely cause problems, simply because they are proteins and
would add to the bio load.

Another fining is bentonite, a clay product containing montmorillonite
(which is a magnesium-aluminum silicate). Bentonite swells when wet and
is gel-forming, so I suspect it wouldn't make a good substitute for diatomic
powder.

There is also Kieselsol, which is liquid silicon dioxide, but it probably
wouldn't make for a good substitute either.

Have you tried contacting swimming pool suppliers? Diatomaceous earth
is commonly used in pool filters and cheap (around $20 for 5kg).

Cheers,

Michi.

--
Michi Henning Ph: +61 4 1118-2700
ZeroC, Inc. http://www.zeroc.com

[SkyCatcher]

Thanks for the detailed reply.....I came to much the same view after a
little investigation. I am indeed now seeking a swimming pool supplies
company for DE!

cHEERS.

sKY


"Michi Henning" > wrote in message
...
> "SkyCatcher" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Hi,
> >
> > Does anyone kjnow if these are the "same" thing. I can't get diatomic
powder
> > for my filter in UK but I could easily get wine finings. Would these be
> > safe?
>
> I suspect not. Several finings are used, such as Isinglass (made from
> the bladder of the sturgeon fish), gelatin (made from skin, tendons,
hoofs,
> or bones of cows and pigs), and albumen (egg white). Adding any of
> these would likely cause problems, simply because they are proteins and
> would add to the bio load.
>
> Another fining is bentonite, a clay product containing montmorillonite
> (which is a magnesium-aluminum silicate). Bentonite swells when wet and
> is gel-forming, so I suspect it wouldn't make a good substitute for
diatomic
> powder.
>
> There is also Kieselsol, which is liquid silicon dioxide, but it probably
> wouldn't make for a good substitute either.
>
> Have you tried contacting swimming pool suppliers? Diatomaceous earth
> is commonly used in pool filters and cheap (around $20 for 5kg).
>
> Cheers,
>
> Michi.
>
> --
> Michi Henning Ph: +61 4 1118-2700
> ZeroC, Inc. http://www.zeroc.com
>