What Is Zeolite Clay?

Soil Amendments

• Ammonia, while dangerous in aquariums, acts as a fertilizer for plants. Zeolite clay absorbs water, ammonia and other nutrients and retains them. Instead of being consumed by bacteria and converting to nitrate, the ammonia remains in the zeolite clay, where it becomes available to plant roots. Clinoptilolite, which is a naturally occurring zeolite, is often used for soil amendments.

Odor Control

• The naturally porous nature of zeolite clay allows it to remove moisture and odor-causing gases. It absorbs smells and fumes into its own molecules, releasing them once the zeolite clay is placed in the sun.

Water Filtration Media

• Zeolite clay's high cation exchange capacity, or the ability to retain and exchange similarly-charged mineral nutrients, assists in the absorption of ammonia, which is dangerous in home aquariums. Adding ammonia-absorbing zeolite clay to the filter helps clean the water and reduces the chance of ammonia toxicity.