Is Pool Grade DE Reef-Safe?

[Miami Reef]

I have a diatom filter I wanted to charge with DE Powder. The food grade was too fine, but the pool grade worked.

However, I want to know if there’s any concerns about using pool grade DE powder in a reef tank?

@Randy Holmes-Farley

This is the exact place I purchased the pool grade DE (purchased in 2021) https://a.co/d/i6Otqj4

 

[Formulator]

Found this online:

Diatomaceous earth (DE) comes in two primary grades: food grade and pool grade. The impurities and differences between these two types are significant due to their different processing methods and intended uses.

Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth:

• Purity: Typically consists of 85-90% amorphous silica and must contain less than 1% crystalline silica.
• Impurities: May include small amounts of natural minerals and clays, such as alumina and iron oxide, but these are generally considered non-toxic and safe for consumption.
• Processing: Food grade DE is not heat-treated or chemically treated, preserving its natural amorphous silica content.
• Safety: Safe for human and animal consumption, often used as a food additive, dietary supplement, and in agricultural applications.

Pool Grade Diatomaceous Earth:

• Purity: Contains a higher percentage of crystalline silica, often around 60%, due to calcination (heat treatment).
• Impurities: The calcination process can introduce more crystalline silica and possibly other chemical contaminants depending on the source of the diatomaceous earth.
• Processing: Undergoes heat treatment to increase its filtration efficiency, transforming amorphous silica into crystalline silica.
• Safety: Not safe for consumption. Inhalation of pool grade DE can be harmful due to the high crystalline silica content, which is a known respiratory hazard.

Key Differences:

1. Silica Content:
• Food Grade: High in amorphous silica, low in crystalline silica (<1%).
• Pool Grade: High in crystalline silica (up to 60%).
2. Intended Use:
• Food Grade: Safe for consumption, used in food and agricultural applications.
• Pool Grade: Used as a filtration aid in swimming pools and industrial applications, not safe for consumption.
3. Processing:
• Food Grade: Minimally processed, retaining natural amorphous silica.
• Pool Grade: Heat-treated, increasing crystalline silica content.

 

[Tamberav]

Pretty sure @Paul B uses the regular pool stuff? The food is too fine as you said so pretty sure it doesn’t work in any sort of DE filter.

 

[Ironwill723]

I use pool DE with no problems. Got it at Lowes.

 

[Miami Reef]

My concern is arsenic or lead:

“To be considered Food Grade, the diatomaceous earth must not contain more than 10mg/kg of arsenic and no more than 10mg/kg of lead.”

https://progressiveplanet.com/food-...s-pool-grade-diatomaceous-earth-the-dl-on-de/

Pretty sure @Paul B uses the regular pool stuff? The food is too fine as you said so pretty sure it doesn’t work in any sort of DE filter.

I love Paul B, but he can be diabolic sometimes haha.

My reef also contained pliers, beer cans and asphalt. (still does)

Post in thread 'Why don't algae control writers/advisors do live time work threads in the nuisance algae forum?'
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/w...he-nuisance-algae-forum.1034469/post-12271720


I like to keep ultra delicate things like acropora, blue linkia starfish (which I’ve had for 2 years already) and maxima clams. I like to be extra cautious before adding something to my tank.

I bought a new DE filter for my fish QT (copper) but I wanted to use it in my display once before I contaminated it with the copper medication. Once I use it for QT I can’t use it for the display. It was just a fun idea to see how much clearer the water would get.

But it’s not really worth the risk for the display. My tank is already extremely clear.

 

[Formulator]

blue linkia starfish (which I’ve had for 2 years already)

PM on the way…

 

[Miami Reef]

Currently hugging a Goniopora.

 

[JonoH]

Currently hugging a Goniopora.

I've had a blue lincka for over 2 years now - it recently say on one of my goni frags and ate it! At least there is a patch in the top now with no polyps!

 

[Miami Reef]

I've had a blue lincka for over 2 years now - it recently say on one of my goni frags and ate it! At least there is a patch in the top now with no polyps!

Goniopora are my achilles heel. Some do well for me and others don’t. I can’t find a correlation yet. I recently purchased several aquacultured Goniopora from @Big E , and they are all looking fantastic right now.

I’m under the current impression that the aquaculture types are what thrives in my tank. I have no other explanation why certain types die.

I have 2 different Goniopora together. One is thriving and the other is dead. I have several clones of the dead one throughout the tank, and they are also dead. In fact, they all died at the exact pace and time. Very interesting.

I’ll update on the future with my current Goniopora success rate with Big E’s guys. I’m very hopeful.

 

[Tamberav]

My concern is arsenic or lead:

“To be considered Food Grade, the diatomaceous earth must not contain more than 10mg/kg of arsenic and no more than 10mg/kg of lead.”

https://progressiveplanet.com/food-...s-pool-grade-diatomaceous-earth-the-dl-on-de/


I love Paul B, but he can be diabolic sometimes haha.

Post in thread 'Why don't algae control writers/advisors do live time work threads in the nuisance algae forum?'
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/w...he-nuisance-algae-forum.1034469/post-12271720


I like to keep ultra delicate things like acropora, blue linkia starfish (which I’ve had for 2 years already) and maxima clams. I like to be extra cautious before adding something to my tank.

I bought a new DE filter for my fish QT (copper) but I wanted to use it in my display once before I contaminated it with the copper medication. Once I use it for QT I can’t use it for the display. It was just a fun idea to see how much clearer the water would get.

But it’s not really worth the risk for the display. My tank is already extremely clear.

Your tank is so large, do you feel that the DE is going to add anything of any significance in the short time you use it in your reef?

Not sure if you run gfo but it removes arsenic

That being said, I wouldn’t mess with your tank. Not because of contaminates but if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. Maybe those gonis want that particulate they can find.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have a diatom filter I wanted to charge with DE Powder. The food grade was too fine, but the pool grade worked.

However, I want to know if there’s any concerns about using pool grade DE powder in a reef tank?

@Randy Holmes-Farley

This is the exact place I purchased the pool grade DE (purchased in 2021) https://a.co/d/i6Otqj4

I do not know the answer, and it may be fine. But like any commercial ungraded material, one person using it doesn't imply much for another using it unless they are using identical material.

 

[Paul B]

I have been using pool grade DE for decades. You can't use food- grade powder as it doesn't seem to be porous and clogs right away.

I used pool-grade yesterday.

 

[Big E]

Goniopora are my achilles heel. Some do well for me and others don’t. I can’t find a correlation yet. I recently purchased several aquacultured Goniopora from @Big E , and they are all looking fantastic right now.

I’m under the current impression that the aquaculture types are what thrives in my tank. I have no other explanation why certain types die.

I have 2 different Goniopora together. One is thriving and the other is dead. I have several clones of the dead one throughout the tank, and they are also dead. In fact, they all died at the exact pace and time. Very interesting.

I’ll update on the future with my current Goniopora success rate with Big E’s guys. I’m very hopeful.

All the gonis that I have seen that grow into big colonies have been aqua cultured for years. I won't buy the newer wild ones as they are hacked up by vendors and sold. Most of these are the pastel types that are coming in from Australia.

I can only vouch for what I keep and have never needed to dose manganese, goni products or try to feed them. Lighting(led or bulbs) doesn't matter other than keep it low par. I don't use heavy blue light so I can't say it's good or bad. Best flow is medium for back and forth movement that is waving the tentacles.

If you're going to frag them once they get bigger only do it a few times a year.