Local source of clay - VA

[fjf888]

I'm mineralizing some soil for use in future tanks. Looking for a place that I can buy a smaller amount of clay in NOVA. I'm mineralizing a 40 lb bag of Lowes cheap topsoil, so I figure I would need maybe 2 pounds of clay at most.

I could use laterite, which I could get easily. I've looked at various threads on TPT and APC, it appears that laterite can be used in lieu of clay. What I wasn't clear about is if there is an advantage to using clay over laterite

Thanks

Fred

[halak]

Isn't clay much cheaper than laterite?

[Cristy Keister]

There's tons available in my yard.

[fjf888]

Yeah I got lots of VA's finest clay soil in my backyard too.
I probably could just mineralize something I dig up,

I'm sure laterite is much more expensive (i also think I have some somewhere), but I don't really have much of a use for a 25 lb block of clay . My guess is the clay probably does more to improve the CEC of the substrate

I have plenty of time, especially with the rain performiing the rinse cycle on the soil in the backyard.

[scientist0724]

Have you tried Turface? It's a baked clay substrate and it costs $20 per 50 lb (?) bag at Merrifield Garden Centers.

Arlene

[halak]

I am pretty sure this is the kind I bought years ago:

http://www.utrechtart.com/dsp_view_prod ... item=37596

I got it in an art store in Rockville. And I ended up using it all. I have it in 5 of my tanks now.

[fjf888]

Thanks for the replies. I got some porcelain clay for free from my sister in law who does a lot of pottery.

I've tried to figure out the differences between clays. It appears a main difference in the color is the iron oxide, of which red clay has more and porcelain clay has little. The other difference is porosity, red clay being more porous and porcelain clay less so.

The logical conclusion seems to be red clay is better, my question is should I avoid using the porcelain clay or if the differences are that great.

Thanks