Substrate - Crushed marble

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<H1>crushed marble</H1><DIV id=Qtextbox><P><STRONG>Author: Cichlid breeder</STRONG><BR><BR>hi

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i was wondering if anyone knew were i can get some crushed marble and how much i will be looking to spend to put them in a 6 foot

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thanx in adv

</DIV><H2>Replies »</H2><DIV id=Atextbox><P><STRONG>Author: Mudtea</STRONG><BR><BR>You can get crushed marble at any nursery places - i.e. places where they normally sell pebbles, sands, etc. (e.g. Australian Native Landscape)

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You can get them at 10mm or smaller size (~1mm).

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I used 25Kg for my 4 foot tank - using the 1mm chipped marble.

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For the 1mm crushed marble, you are looking at roughtly $15 for a 25kg bag. Can't remember how much the 10mm chipped marble cost.

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Hope this helps.

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Cheers

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Mudtea

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Parramatta

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</DIV><DIV id=Atextbox><P><STRONG>Author: CThompson</STRONG><BR><BR>Crushed marble is not a substance one wants to put into a fish tank. For aesthetic reasons, the white colour will cause the fish to flush out their colouration in an attempt to match their background. And for a H&S reason, the process of crushing will leave sharp/er edges to the substrate than fish have evolved to understand. You want a substrate that is fluvial (originated from the water, ie. rounded edges), and preferable some sort of middle tone in colour. The colour obviously will be a personal opinion, though your choice can affect the colour of your fish, but if it has shape edges, it can do damage to your fish.

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Incidentally, the sharp edges are also not good for plant life that can damage their roots on the sharp edges also.

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Craig

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</DIV><DIV id=Atextbox><P><STRONG>Author: Mudtea</STRONG><BR><BR>

Craig -

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Thankx for the info.

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Now I know why my fish's colour always looks really pale/white.

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Mudtea

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Parramatta

</DIV><DIV id=Atextbox><P><STRONG>Author: hungsta</STRONG><BR><BR>what about the pool dust size??? does that contain any sharps???

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i was thinking of getting them im now im not so sure!!!

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we definitely need more info on this topic........comments please...share your experiences.........

</DIV><DIV id=Atextbox><P><STRONG>Author: bimborocks</STRONG><BR><BR>just wondering what sort of black or dark substrates are available. i know you can get black marble so can you get black crushed marble.

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Thanks James

</DIV><DIV id=Atextbox><P><STRONG>Author: CThompson</STRONG><BR><BR>I believe that if one wants to have a substrate in your aquarium, the first prerequisite is that it is fluvial in origin. As already mentioned, that means, it has come from nature as you have received it and its edges have been worn down. Fresh water fish have evolved over the millennia, and do not come across sharp edges as they would with a tank of substrate made from being crushed to that size. What size it happens to be crushed to, is I believe irrelevant, as it is the process that makes the particle that size that is inappropriate, not the size itself.

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I am unfamiliar with what ?pool dust size? is, but I imagine hungsta you are referring to sand. Sand from a beach or river is fluvial, so it will not have sharp edges. I have fluvial black sand in many of my tanks. Some might say that black will do the reverse of what a white substrate will promote, and I would have no argument with that other than, you should see my Leptosoma malasa.

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If one is looking for an ideal particle size, I believe 3mm is choice (smaller for sand sifters of course). It is not too small to pack down too tightly, and not too large that food can remain hidden between the gravel. If you want to buy gravel from the quarry, you can view their web site at;

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www.specialisedgravel.au.com

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They have all colours through to black. I believe it is the only place in NSW at the least that black fluvial substrate may be purchased, and all gravels and sands of this colour in nurseries and aquariums have probably come from them. They sell to the public, but the catch is they are up around Newcastle, a hassle for those of us that are not local.

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I hope that helps.

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Craig

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</DIV><DIV id=Atextbox><P><STRONG>Author: hungsta</STRONG><BR><BR>Hey craig,

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Thank you so much for the info, i know many users will benefit from this.

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I was planning to get the crushed marble nut now having second thoughts, i might look into black sand.

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I recently moved my gold occies to black sand and the colour have never been better, so instead of crushed marble...i will try to get them some black sand so they can be happy.

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I have checked out the site and they do not have pics of the fluvial substrate. Can you provide some pics???

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Is anyone going up north anytime soon???

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</DIV><DIV id=Atextbox><P><STRONG>Author: CThompson</STRONG><BR><BR>Give them a call, they will send you an A4 colour sheet with photos of many of the different gravels they sell. If you have a particular interest in a few they will even send you mini samples so you may have the stuff in your hand to make judgement. Tell them Craig from Menai told you.

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For fish like occies, it is even more important that you don?t get a substrate that has been crushed to size. What the occies do to their gravel, I?m sure you?ll understand this. A fluvial sand is fantastic for them, and I feel black brings out their best colours.

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Craig

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</DIV><DIV id=Atextbox><P><STRONG>Author: chorrylan</STRONG><BR><BR>hi,

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while have to agree with Craig that black sand looks good and Craigs fish look great in their black tanks I wouldn't be too concerned abotu the sharp-edges bit.

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The pool-dust size has no sharp edges of any relevance and sand sifters big and small love the stuff despite the colour. The problem with this size is the effort cleaning it before you put it into the tank and trying to avoid losing it all when you siphon the tank.

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The 00 size does have sharper edges but never sharp enough to concern me, besides within a week any sharp edges have dissolved off even if they had concerned me. A much bigger concern is sharp edges on the full size rocks in my opinion, big, fast and clutzy fish like Cyathopharnx have no problems with crushed marble (and absolutely love pooldust) but can come to grief on sharp or rough rocks.

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I've never tried larger sizes so don't know about 'em.

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Two ps's...

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1. if I could get my hands on nice fine black fluvial sand/gravel at reasonabel prices I'd prefer it to marble... but for aesthetic reasons and because the fish seem to be less stressed with less glare not because of concerns about sharp edges.

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2. errrmmmm Craig does "it has come from nature as you have received it" apply to your nifty "plants" made out of strips of plastic too?

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Cheers,

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Laurie

</DIV><DIV id=Atextbox><P><STRONG>Author: CThompson</STRONG><BR><BR>Laurie,

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give them a call, try to organise to have a pallet brought out your way. Add on the transport costs, and sell of what you don't use. You are bound to have people down your way interested, even if it only the local aquarium, they won't be able to get it any cheaper than your cost plus transport fee.

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My black plants may be plastic, but I'm sure you'll agree, they have no sharp edges.

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I agree also that sharp edges on rocks should be considered before putting into a tank, but even more so those aquarium keepers out there that put pieces of coral into their tank need to re-evaluate their thinking.

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Craig

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</DIV><DIV id=Atextbox><P><STRONG>Author: 23Skidoo</STRONG><BR><BR>I'm a little dubious about black substrate, agreed it does make the colours come out better. But, it's quite a rare colour for most fish to have, unless you mean mud dwellers. I use a black fabric background and beach sand, and my fish have nice enough colours.

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I've recently bought a big bag of river sand, it's got heterogenous particle size, nice dull colour, and it's cheap!

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Mind you i wouldn't mind trying a little black sand mixed with a paler substrate, maybe just with beach/river sand

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