Deflocculation Action!

This is how my batches of clay look this morning.Left is earthenware,right is ball clay,both with reotan [commercial deflocculant from Sydney's bottomless store of arcane ceramic materials],middle is earthenware with soda ash/waterglass,which I obviously got wrong,because it hasn't budged. The waterglass [sodium silicate to you] is also care of Mr.Rosenstone.I think the part I'm looking for is that narrow middle band that sits on top of the heavier particle layer on the bottom,the trick now being to syphon it off without causing a disturbance to the heavy guys.My wine-syphoning skills will no doubt come in useful here.