On a weekly basis I add Vital Pond, distrbuted by Sandon Aquatics to my water. any comments? Is there something better on the market etc? Any comments would be nice....

Hi Adi
Adi you know there is so many different things you can put in your water some might work but most dont. It is like all the things advertised for us to detoxify and what not, they just dont work and is a load of crap.
I personaly do not know what is all in Vital Pond but I can only asume that it is mainly "montmorrilon clay". You can purchase it as bentonite very much cheaper than all the fancy names it gets along the way, and that is the only stuff you should, if you like put in your water. Chris Neaves has written some good articles about it.

Will read up, and yes conains that. where would one buy?

montmorillonite it a particular clay. Bentonite.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montmorillonite

Attapulgite is readily availible in South Africa, and can be used aswell.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palygorskite

An aquantance of mine's family owns a Clay mine near Rustenburg.
I have the chemical analysis work out somewhere on my PC, if you want it mail me. He brought me a couple of kg's a loong while back which i used and worked well.

Now here comes the shocker.

The Pick 'n Pay brand untreated Kitty litter is pure attapulgite.....

So where are you buying your next lot of clay?

So where don't you buy your next lot of clay


"Although bentonite is found in many clumping cat litters and koi keepers are often tempted to use them in ponds these are best avoided. Manufactures of clumping cat litters often add chemicals to introduce a fragrance to the cat litters. Some cat litters are sprayed with a plastic compound to reduce the dust associated with the clay. Other cat litter have colorants added for commercial appeal. Unless you are absolutely sure – avoid clay cat litters in koi ponds." by Chris Neaves

"The Pick 'n Pay brand untreated Kitty litter is pure attapulgite....."

Read....

I fully agree with Chris's statement.

There is 35kg of it in my veggie filter.
I have 80kg of it in my neighbours Anoxic filter.
And another 40kg in another persons veggie filter i built them.

So where don't you buy your next lot of clay


"Although bentonite is found in many clumping cat litters and koi keepers are often tempted to use them in ponds these are best avoided. Manufactures of clumping cat litters often add chemicals to introduce a fragrance to the cat litters. Some cat litters are sprayed with a plastic compound to reduce the dust associated with the clay. Other cat litter have colorants added for commercial appeal. Unless you are absolutely sure – avoid clay cat litters in koi ponds." by Chris Neaves

"The Pick 'n Pay brand untreated Kitty litter is pure attapulgite....."

Read....

I fully agree with Chris's statement.

There is 35kg of it in my veggie filter.
I have 80kg of it in my neighbours anoxic filter.
And another 40kg in another persons veggie filter i built them

One should avoid adding all sorts of chemicals to a pond (ie. water conditioners). Try to keep the pond as natural as possible. Having said this, montmorilinite clay is a natural occuring substance from the earth and can also be found in a koi's natural environment. Mud ponds also have clay in it...

ok,onfused look, so I add the kitty litter? or clay? where do I get these things? hahah I know where to get the kitty litter ......

Quote :

ok,onfused look, so I add the kitty litter? or clay? where do I get these things? hahah I know where to get the kitty litter ......

www.clay.co.za and they are basically in your back yard - Olifantsfontein. Last time I bought from them it was R67.00 for 40kg buy the fine powder not the chunks.

i like that option Collin.