Re: pH/heavy metals (was) Re: [GSAS-Member] Free fish food, or trade

[John Ruhland <john@drruhland.com>]

Elaine,
Thanks for the tip on oyster shells.

Betty,
Your results are consistent with the way I understand chelation to 
work, even if
I did not explain it well. The chelating agents I am familiar with 
preferentially bind
lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury, aluminum, and various trace minerals, 
roughly in that
order. How well a mineral is bound has to do with the type and degree 
of charge inherent to each mineral.
Only after the heavy metals are bound, does the agent bind magnesium, 
then calcium.
If there was a way of knowing when just enough chelating agent was 
added to bind the
heavy metals, the beneficial minerals would stay in suspension.

Since we do not know exactly how much is needed, by adding extra 
minerals, if you added enough,
there would be some left in suspension, after the chelating agent was 
saturated. Just like wiping oil up
with a fabric, eventually the fabric becomes saturated.


On Feb 25, 2005, at 12:21 PM, haika@drizzle.com wrote:

> I suppose the bottom line is whether I was able to raise the pH (and
> increase the hardness) of the water in my Endler's tank. I use NovAqua
> when I do water changes...and I used crushed coral, cuttlebones and an
> occasional pinch of Epsom salts (when I remembered) and was able to
> accomplish my goals (shrug). I raised the pH despite my use of a water
> conditioner formulated to remove heavy metals (shrug). I wasn't using
> dolomite, but I WAS adding minerals.
>
> Betty Goetz
>
> > Betty,
> > Most of the chelating agents bind both heavy metals and minerals, thus
> > soften
> > the water. If you want to consider using dolomite, and then chelate 
> > out
> > the lead,
> > you've also chelated out what you wanted the dolomite for in the first
> > place.
>
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Dr. John F. Ruhland
The Natural Health Medical Clinic
4002 - 25th Avenue S, Seattle, WA 98108
206-723-4891
www.drruhland.com

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