Vibratory Media as Substrate?

[Blaha]

I works as a precision machinist, and we have a machine called a Vibratory Finishing System. It works roughly like a rock tumbler, but instead of tumbling it vibrates. It is meant to take burrs off irregular shaped parts without scratching them. There is a huge variety of media you can add to the pot including a non-abrasive ceramic media. It comes in tons of sizes, colors, shapes, etc. Usually when I see people using an industrial substrate its an abrasive Aluminum Oxide powder (BD Blasting Sand or the like) so I wonder, has anyone ever messed with Vibratory Media as a substrate, or does anyone else know about it and would have more info if it is safe? It doesn't seem to have any sort of coatings or anything like that because you add the detergents in the machines when you run it.

Edited July 17, 2022 by Blaha

[Flumpweesel]

Sounds like it could be safe but I'd like to see it before deciding. It sounds like it would only be available in specialist shops which might be the main reason for it going under radar.

Most inert things can be used as a substrate I do like a smooth feel to my gravel though.

If it could be cleaned well enough you could have a recycling project to look into depending on how often it needs to be replaced in the machine. See ya on Etsy 😝

[lefty o]

some of the ceramic media's could be okay.

[Blaha]

It never needs replaced. The stuff we have is like 10 years old and gets run a few times per week. But it's smooth like tumbled rocks the size of aquarium gravel and we have like green and blue ones. It's not hard to clean because it gets cleaned as soap and metal residue builds up and gets scummy. I rinsed it the same way I've learned to rinse aquarium gravel and it game out great.

The part about it being specially makes sense. It may only be purchasable from suppliers. I started to think about it after the most recent ACO video at Aqua Lounge because I really liked the look of the flat stones in the fine black gravel

[Brandon p]

The shape is going to one thing to look for. I’m not super familiar with them but I know they come in different shapes. Ideally you don’t want anything that is going to settle and fit together. The more round and less angles is better. Thin oval shapes aren’t great but fat oval work better. 

The reason is you don’t it to lock together. You want water and micro-organisms to flow. If though get say star shaped which I think they have, and it settles the edge will lock together. Also if you want plants that root they aren’t going to be happy with that.  
I say try if your interested. Just know it may not work but you never know. If you do it post in the journal and keep us informed. 

[nabokovfan87]

Just linking there here for reference. We went through some of this for BDBS here.  Keep in mind as a focus whether or not the media is inert, full of silicates, or recycled to determine how to use it.  I would also always suggest a leech test for any media you're not sure about. I would also suggest a polyfilter test as well to see what it leeches.

 

[Melkor]

Could leave it in a bucket of water or a tank with just water and that media for a few months. Then have an ICP analysis done on your normal water source, and the experiment water. Icp analysis is like 40 bucks for 2 samples.