TM Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 Has anyone used this as a substrate? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rozski Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 Won't pumice float? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted July 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 Pumice will if it is dry. It will also sink if wet. Wanted to find out if anyone is using it and what they think of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquatopia Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 What are the benefits of it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted July 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 Thats what i am trying to find out. Its not as dence as gravel, so will help with overall weight may even help with the filtration as there would be a larger surface area for bacteria to grow on. Also can't find any other good substrate without spending a heap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquatopia Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 Dont get me started on substrates, lol ! I believe seachem do a filter media that looks distinctly like small pumice pebbles, so you may well be right on the filtration aspect. Depending on what fish you have would it not be a bit harsh though ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 I dont see any problems with using it. Daltons propergating sand contains pumice nd i have been using that for a few years now. Try it out, and then let us know :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted July 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 I dont see any problems with using it. Daltons propergating sand contains pumice nd i have been using that for a few years now. Try it out, and then let us know :lol: May do, the only problem i see is that it will be light so may be able to get pushed around a bit by fish and current. Just hope it will hold the aquatic mix down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted July 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 . Depending on what fish you have would it not be a bit harsh though ? It is round in shape, pumice is a bit like sand paper i spose but there are other substrates that could be worse, really sharp edges etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new zealand discus man Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 Hi It's is dredging from the Waikato river..Just a bit heaver grade than builders sand and yes when washing if before it dried some pumus will float and then sink.. Particals here are 1mm to 3.5mm if the same as came from the old tuakau sand co...But think the same stuff... I have it in all 124 tanks with u/g filters and a ploy material over filter to stop leaking through..5mm thick.. Advantage...Fine ..great for filter growth..Fine ,,so food cannot enter the biggest killer of fish..Fine..Stops fry being lost in waikamo caves.. Warning...With this and many sands/gravels used the PH may very well drop to ever below 4 PH..A bit of sea shell can buffer and hold over time.. And a PH Meter is on special from dick smiths for about 77 dollars or there abouts... Cheers Phill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted July 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 Hi It's is dredging from the Waikato river..Just a bit heaver grade than builders sand and yes when washing if before it dried some pumus will float and then sink.. Particals here are 1mm to 3.5mm if the same as came from the old tuakau sand co...But think the same stuff... I have it in all 124 tanks with u/g filters and a ploy material over filter to stop leaking through..5mm thick.. Advantage...Fine ..great for filter growth..Fine ,,so food cannot enter the biggest killer of fish..Fine..Stops fry being lost in waikamo caves.. Warning...With this and many sands/gravels used the PH may very well drop to ever below 4 PH..A bit of sea shell can buffer and hold over time.. And a PH Meter is on special from dick smiths for about 77 dollars or there abouts... Cheers Phill Thanks Phil, that helps. Will try to post a photo shortly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 I use pumice and it looks great, the bristlenoses like it for digging their caves and the plants grow like mad only problem i've had with it is the pH as new zealand discus man said and it gets sucked up the gravel vacuum and clogs the end I like it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquatopia Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 I use pumice and it looks great, the bristlenoses like it for digging their caves and the plants grow like mad only problem i've had with it is the pH as new zealand discus man said and it gets sucked up the gravel vacuum and clogs the end I like it Do you have some pics of what it looks like in situ ? Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new zealand discus man Posted July 19, 2008 Report Share Posted July 19, 2008 Hi Thanks for that tip..Re b/n caves..I have never though of that myself and have pumus up tp 200mm lumps..Got to get working..Phill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 20, 2008 Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 (ignore the bluetac sculpture top right :oops: it was my flatmate) I cant stop the plants growing :lol: the amazon swords go crazy i got the one in the pot as a little sucker thing growing on a stalk of a big plant a month later and it is huge and I have 4 seedlings that it sent out Its good as the fry dont swim dont into the rocks and die, and any food that is missed stays on top of the pumice and gets found by BNs or fry - less food getting wasted IMO its much better than the pebbles i have in my other tank Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquatopia Posted July 20, 2008 Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 ooks good Olly - and WOW ! You turned your flatmate into a blutack sculpture ??? :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 20, 2008 Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 dont make noise when im trying to study Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted July 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 [ (ignore the bluetac sculpture top right :oops: it was my flatmate) I cant stop the plants growing :lol: the amazon swords go crazy i got the one in the pot as a little sucker thing growing on a stalk of a big plant a month later and it is huge and I have 4 seedlings that it sent out Its good as the fry dont swim dont into the rocks and die, and any food that is missed stays on top of the pumice and gets found by BNs or fry - less food getting wasted IMO its much better than the pebbles i have in my other tank Nice one that looks really good. What grain size is it?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwalk Posted July 20, 2008 Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 I've got Daltons Propogating Sand in my new 200l tank below, which is a mix of fine gravile and Pumice (2-4mm approx) It looks natural, and none of the pumice floats. There is also a really large piece of pumice with holes in as an ornament. My 130L community tank also has a pumice / stone mix, but a larger grade stone, and that also looks natural. It has been set up like this for 2 weeks, and the current PH reading is 6.7. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted July 20, 2008 Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 What grain size is it?? 3-5mm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new zealand discus man Posted July 20, 2008 Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 Hi I just got into day a pair of ordinary kribs..Got chunk about 150mm x 120 thick and in two minutes made them a cave an while i was washing out there tank.{180L thats how i get many to breed as need zip done for months..} They moved straight in to it..Drills easy with wood speed bits at a slow rpm and just move bit around in side and hollow out..Off to make a huge one for some yellow spotted pleco's im tring to breed....Phill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquatopia Posted July 20, 2008 Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 Hi I just got into day a pair of ordinary kribs..Got chunk about 150mm x 120 thick and in two minutes made them a cave an while i was washing out there tank.{180L thats how i get many to breed as need zip done for months..} They moved straight in to it..Drills easy with wood speed bits at a slow rpm and just move bit around in side and hollow out..Off to make a huge one for some yellow spotted pleco's im tring to breed....Phill Phil, are you talking about pumice rock ? You drilled it out to make a cave ? Awesome How does it differ to TUFA rock ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new zealand discus man Posted July 20, 2008 Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 Hi Dont know that stuff but guess is could be just loose molded ,,Could make anything using silicone tanks glue..Or simular ..Yes i have heaps from west coast beach not to far away..Phill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted July 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 Couple of photos of the mix i got. Looks darker than it is. Setup in the tank. Looks pretty good. Down side to it is that it is quite light, this may be because there is still trapped air below. I am hopeing it will get better with time. None floated to the top. There is also a fine mix of some other types of stone/gravel which are quite a nice contrast to the gravel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquatopia Posted July 20, 2008 Report Share Posted July 20, 2008 Where did ya get it ? Was it expensive? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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