Which Assumptions?
Brad, I guess Tom as well,
None of my comments were based on anything other than my experience.
Which of my assumptions were wrong?
- 1. That you said it is fired clay and I agree it is fired clay. (You are correct.)
- 2. The people that sell it say there is a difference between screened and unscreened. (Your argument is with Mid-America Sports Advantage, not me.)
- 3. That I assume there are ball parks around the area Gerry lives. (You may have me here, I do not know where Gerry lives, and they may not have ballparks or recreation areas in South Florida.)
- 4. That the folks that sell this stuff sell it to ballparks and recreation centers. (Your beef once again is with Mid-America Sports Advantage, not me.)
- 5. Big time hydroscopic. (I will live with this one, perhaps absorbing 4 to 5 times as much water is not ‘big-time’, a pretty petty point, not allowing me a little literary leeway.)
- 6. I think it is worth soaking for a couple of days. (That is what I think.)
- 7. I did not realize this is Bentonite, which is actually Montmorillonite, (Na,Ca)0,3(Al,Mg)2Si4O10(OH)2•n(H2O), now I get why it is so cheap, hydroscopic and really needs to be screened. (I did not realize it until yesterday.)
- 8. I suspect diatoms really like the stuff. (I will give you this one; we have an extra silica based problem with the well water here, so silicates worry me. I have not experimented enough to know if this is true or not, nor am I likely too.)
- 9. When fired it does have good properties. (You are the one that continues to use it; I assume you agree it has good properties.)
- 10. I suspect you can find this as something other than SMS, Bentonite has got to be available all over the place. (That is what I suspect.)
- 11. Me, I'll stick to silt or clay kitty litter, mix in some peat and worm poop and such. (I will, what right have you to deny me my choice, my opinion.)
I do not recall “championing” Turface, I have never used Turface, for all I know Oildri makes the kitty litter. As to the Kitty Litter, it is just cheap and readily available. I simply did not opt to continue using SMS, I suppose had it struck me as that much better or cheap and readily available I would. The Kitty Litter I like is a WalMart brand that compares itself to a major national brand. I do not necessarily think it so superior just cheap and readily available.
If I champion anything, it is do-it-yourself substrates (and pretty much diy anything else). If I champion any substrate material, it is silt, peat moss and worm poop. Can't help noticing that even with the swipe at me Tom Barr would recommend peat moss in the mix.
Primarily I was answering a question, with a given set of conditions, posed by Gerry, someone I respect and would try only to give my best response. The reason for your upset is beyond me.
Indeed, I have used SMS; for a couple of years. Please be kind enough not to presume to know what I have or have not used. I am quite sure I have never met you and I was clear in my posts.
My opinions are my own based on my experience. If you like SMS, I am truly happy for you.
What I learned about screened and unscreened, I learned from the folks building and maintaining the Cactus League spring training ballparks. They sold me a 50 lb (unopened) bag of
http://www.sportsadvantage.com/product_info.php?product_id=698 for I think three dollars (I really do not remember, it wasn’t much) five or so years ago, I never said I screened it, the product claims to have been screened. I didn’t wash it either, I soaked it for a few days or week, whatever, it is what I do with most of my substrates, how that is significantly different from putting it in a tank adding water and waiting, I do not know. Nor do I understand why it should upset you.
The whole question and exchange along with other posts caused me to do a little more research,
I only discovered yesterday that SMS is what I had always referred to as Bentonite, which is actually Montmorillonite, (Na,Ca)0,3(Al,Mg)2Si4O10(OH)2•n(H2O), which
I think is a silicate, hence the diatom reference. (Note: For clarity, I am not claiming it caused a diatom bloom, and I am seriously unlikely to test it further.)
I have 50 plus years of experience and I keep a bunch of plants and fish, I have tried a whole bunch of combinations of stuff, most of them I have not continued to use, SMS is one of them, I was not impressed,
big deal.
I
did not tell anyone not to use it, in fact, now that I know that it is Bentonite, I figured it might increase the odds of finding it for those that wish to try it, but are not privileged, as you are to have it readily available.
Brad, saying you don't like my opinions, that is okay, it is tough sometimes realizing we live in a world of conflicting opinion, it was not a personal attack. Look you made Tom Barr happy! If you knew me, you would know that if you are happy with what you are doing, I am happy.
I am exuberant, I love to try all kinds of things, and I love to share what I learned. If you or anyone else has tried things or has information to counter something I have said it is fine.
However, just because
you hold a particular opinion does not
obligate me or anyone else to agree. Likewise,
you are under no obligation to agree with me.
Biollante