Domolite lime and other lost arts...

[DJ88]

Steve,

Never heard of the stuff. But if you can get me more info I'll read about it. How is it's coating "breathable"?

In my readings about Dolomite on RC I found an interesting test done with Dolomite as a substrate and it's buffering ability. These are the results of a test done on three different substrates. It is done in salt water over a two month period. I found these results on RC. I do wish it had oolitic sand in its comaprison as well. But to me it illustrates that Dolomite isn't as good a buffer as has been made out.

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Laboratory experiments comparing the buffering capacity of crushed oyster shell (composed primarily of the most soluble forms of calcium carbonate -- high magnesium calcite and aragonite), crushed coral gravel, and dolomite sediments compared to that of silica sand. Of course silica sand had no buffering capacity and the tank pH dropped below 7.0 within 90 days. The other sediments didn't work so well, either -- after two months in a tank with a reasonable bioload, the pH of seawater in the tank with dolomite was 7.4-7.5, the crushed coral/aragonite was a little better at 7.7-7.8, and the oyster shell was the best at 7.8-7.9 -- again though, this was over only 2 months. In any case, none of them buffered the pH enough to rely on the capacity of the sediments alone to provide buffering over the long-term.

One more thing to concider. That fact coupled with the use of a Ca reactor, which tends to depress the Ph of a tank, may be of some concern.

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also one more thing if you check into all thoes posts on RC (I have) 90% of them are talking about dolomite gravel (large stuff). now weather this makes a difference or not.. I don't know.

If that is the case then there is less info on dolomite on the boards than I thought. If 90% are on gravel and not the small grain, then it is even more difficult to get the correct info is it not? More for a newbie to sift through and decode. How many people understand all the nuances of a DSB when they are brand new to this hobby? or what the current sciences are behind all the technical information available? not many. All the more reason to proceed with caution with regards to Dolomite as a substrate for someone new to the hobby.

Victor,
I say go on with your tank, all the power to you. [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] But I am still hesitant to say go for it to someone new.

[ 23 January 2002: Message edited by: DJ88 ]</p>