stemar Posted January 30, 2003 Report Share Posted January 30, 2003 Hi, As a newbie to fish keeping I am having some difficulty locating the kind of gravel that I want. I need "hardness free" gravel - something that does not have shell, etc in it. I live in Wellington and my local stores only seem to sell gravel with shell in it. Anyone got any ideas of where I could source the kind of gravel that I need from. The idea from the store was to go through the gravel (about 50 Kg worth) picking out the gravel by hand - Stephanie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 30, 2003 Report Share Posted January 30, 2003 Hi Stephanie and welcome to the fishroom. Most of the gravel sold in pet shops is hardness free. Sometimes what looks like shell is actually small pieces of white stone. The 2 most common gravels used in aquariums is "fruit salad" (a mix of brown, orange and white stones) and "brown". Both of these can be found in shops. Both are 'hardness free' or inert. The only hardness altering gravel I have ever come across was when I first started keeping fish (over 25 years ago) and the local shop (just a garden centre with a few fish) sold me a lovely dark reddy/brown gravel for my guppy tank. I could not understand why my pH kept rocketing up to 8.0. Turned out the gravel was meant for African set-ups which require very alkaline water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajbroome Posted January 30, 2003 Report Share Posted January 30, 2003 Stephanie said... > I am having some difficulty locating the kind of gravel that I want. Have a look at 'Placemakers' and hardware stores like that. They often sell gravel by the sack. I've successfully (and frequently) used fine gravel (not crushed) as is used for road making. There must be somewhere in Wellington where this stuff is yoiked from a river... IMHO, the finer (3mm or so) and darker the better. But, I don't always follow my own suggestions - depends what's on hand and how much of a hurry I'm in I've probably got some buckets of 'fruit salad' gravel if you wanted to come get it. Andrew, in Palmerston North. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cees Posted January 30, 2003 Report Share Posted January 30, 2003 .... I am having some difficulty locating the kind of gravel that I want. I need "hardness free" gravel - something that does not have shell, etc in it. I live in Wellington and my local stores only seem to sell gravel with shell in it. The Hutt river has some nice deposites of fine gravel. Needs washing and a couple of sieves would help. It's not to difficult to find buckets full 1-3 mm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kriber Posted January 30, 2003 Report Share Posted January 30, 2003 I got my gravel from the local sand and single place (they've got their own quarry there I think). They sell trailer loads for $20 and I paid $2 for what I needed. Apparently this place supplies brown gravel to Redwood Aquatics - one of the LFS Perhaps you could enquire as to where your local garen shops get their gravel from and go direct to the supplier. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 31, 2003 Report Share Posted January 31, 2003 Yes that lovely brown stuff is Canterbury sourced. I use it in all my tanks except the African as I have used beach sand with lots of shell for that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stemar Posted January 31, 2003 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2003 Hi, Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll let you know how I get on. Stephanie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 31, 2003 Report Share Posted January 31, 2003 If you go somewhere other than a pet shop, make sure the gravel is smooth. Rough edges can damage barbels of fish who nose through the substrate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stemar Posted January 31, 2003 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2003 Thanks. My plan is to go back to the pet store and interrogate them about their gravel a bit more. I am assuming that 25Kg of gravel will cover a tank bottom (90x45) with 1 inch of gravel - am I correct. Stephanie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kriber Posted January 31, 2003 Report Share Posted January 31, 2003 Based on some software I've got (Fish Tank Data Version 1.20 - from the net) 37kg of gravel will give you 3 inches of coverage, it doesn't mention the size of the gravel though I used less than 3 full buckets (9 x 3 = 27Litres), maybe 22ish L of gravel which covers my 90 by 45 to a depth of about 2 inches ~ sloping from 3inches to 1 inch. Kriber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert Posted January 31, 2003 Report Share Posted January 31, 2003 what was the name of the place you brought your gravel from please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pegasus Posted January 31, 2003 Report Share Posted January 31, 2003 I get mine from the local quarry suppliers (Atlas Quarries Northland) It is grey chips as used on the roads and is around 3mm to 4mm diam. Costs around forty bucks a tonne, but they will sell by the bag if you want. Give it a good wash under the hose and away you go. Hasn't seemed to affect the params of the tanks, as the fish are breeding and the plants are thriving Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted February 1, 2003 Report Share Posted February 1, 2003 Mine came from Redwood Aquatics in Christchurch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kriber Posted February 2, 2003 Report Share Posted February 2, 2003 Hi Robert I'm not completely sure of the name of the place its either; North Canterbury Sand and Shingle or North End Sand and Shingle. My mate didn't have any change so he got it for free! I reckon they just charge a token amount for their morning tea kitty Its on the right side of State highway 1 north of CHCH but south of Woodend, just past Pineacres if you know that. Kriber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert Posted February 4, 2003 Report Share Posted February 4, 2003 the price has gone up it cost me $15 for 3 large sack fulls to day i wont have to buy gravel for the rest of my life Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Interfecus Posted February 4, 2003 Report Share Posted February 4, 2003 Animates charge rediculous amounts: $30 for a smallish bag! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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