Gravel with a warranty

[Ionizer]

I'm just in the process of setting up two new aquariums, and I happened
to read the "directions" on the back of one of my bags of
"Estes'"gravel. I felt reassured to read that this gravel carried a
manufacturer's guarantee: "If this product is found faulty due to
workmanship it will be replaced."

So far, this gravel is performing within my expectations for gravel, but
I have put my receipt in a safe place just in case I experience a sudden
gravel failure of some sort. Although I had been previously unaware of
the phenomenon of defective gravel, I now feel quite reassured.

The Estes' website goes even further to reassure me:
http://www.estesco.com/beliefs.html

--
Ian.
(Now Playing: Satisfaction Guaranteed - Aquarium Rescue Unit)

[Sean]

Haha...I hate to rain on your sarcastic parade but I thought on it for a
moment. Some gravels are coated in a paint/paint-like coloring and that may
be what they are talking about. I realized this when I was asking about
certain brand names a while back and the lady in the LPS said that some
gravels leech this coating which turns the water and may kill or sicken your
fish.

-Sean

"Ionizer" > wrote in message
...
> I'm just in the process of setting up two new aquariums, and I happened to
> read the "directions" on the back of one of my bags of "Estes'"gravel. I
> felt reassured to read that this gravel carried a manufacturer's
> guarantee: "If this product is found faulty due to workmanship it will be
> replaced."
>
> So far, this gravel is performing within my expectations for gravel, but I
> have put my receipt in a safe place just in case I experience a sudden
> gravel failure of some sort. Although I had been previously unaware of
> the phenomenon of defective gravel, I now feel quite reassured.
>
> The Estes' website goes even further to reassure me:
> http://www.estesco.com/beliefs.html
>
> --
> Ian.
> (Now Playing: Satisfaction Guaranteed - Aquarium Rescue Unit)
>

[[email protected]]

I am sure the leeching occurs in sal****er setups. It says in one of my
catalogs for estes gravel to never use it in a sal****er tank. I
imagine that the enamel on the gravel (I think the enamel on the gravel
smoothes the edges so there aren't any sharp edges that fish could hurt
themselves on and the gravel is somewhat pebbly because of the enamel)
could deteriorate in sal****er and could damage or kill sal****er fish
in that sal****er tank. My initial reaction to the op's post was to
laugh but yeah, you should never use estes gravel in a sal****er tank
unless it says you can on the actual package of gravel (i.e. in other
words if estes makes a sal****er gravel). Important note. Later!

[[email protected]]

Estes gravel IS good gravel - just never use it in a sal****er tank!
Later!

[Elaine T]

Ionizer wrote:
> I'm just in the process of setting up two new aquariums, and I happened
> to read the "directions" on the back of one of my bags of
> "Estes'"gravel. I felt reassured to read that this gravel carried a
> manufacturer's guarantee: "If this product is found faulty due to
> workmanship it will be replaced."
>
> So far, this gravel is performing within my expectations for gravel, but
> I have put my receipt in a safe place just in case I experience a sudden
> gravel failure of some sort. Although I had been previously unaware of
> the phenomenon of defective gravel, I now feel quite reassured.
>
> The Estes' website goes even further to reassure me:
> http://www.estesco.com/beliefs.html
>
Heh. One of my fish store friends called the really bright multicolored
gravel "clown puke" behind the customers' backs. Nice to know clown
puke is guaranteed and backed by God himself. ;-)

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Nikki Casali]

Elaine T wrote:
> Ionizer wrote:
>
>> I'm just in the process of setting up two new aquariums, and I
>> happened to read the "directions" on the back of one of my bags of
>> "Estes'"gravel. I felt reassured to read that this gravel carried a
>> manufacturer's guarantee: "If this product is found faulty due to
>> workmanship it will be replaced."
>>
>> So far, this gravel is performing within my expectations for gravel,
>> but I have put my receipt in a safe place just in case I experience a
>> sudden gravel failure of some sort. Although I had been previously
>> unaware of the phenomenon of defective gravel, I now feel quite
>> reassured.
>>
>> The Estes' website goes even further to reassure me:
>> http://www.estesco.com/beliefs.html
>>
> Heh. One of my fish store friends called the really bright multicolored
> gravel "clown puke" behind the customers' backs. Nice to know clown
> puke is guaranteed and backed by God himself. ;-)

Guaranteed by supernatural forces, ay? Doh! I'd better start praying now.

Nikki

[lgb]

In article >, eetmail-
says...
> Ionizer wrote:
> > I felt reassured to read that this gravel carried a
> > manufacturer's guarantee: "If this product is found faulty due to
> > workmanship it will be replaced."
> >
> >
> Heh. One of my fish store friends called the really bright multicolored
> gravel "clown puke" behind the customers' backs. Nice to know clown
> puke is guaranteed and backed by God himself. ;-)
>
But it still isn't worth **** for a planted tank :-). And, IMNSHO,
there ain't no other kind!

--
Homo sapiens is a goal, not a description

[sophiefishstuff]

In message >, Ionizer
> writes
>I'm just in the process of setting up two new aquariums, and I happened
>to read the "directions" on the back of one of my bags of
>"Estes'"gravel. I felt reassured to read that this gravel carried a
>manufacturer's guarantee: "If this product is found faulty due to
>workmanship it will be replaced."
>
>So far, this gravel is performing within my expectations for gravel, but
>I have put my receipt in a safe place just in case I experience a sudden
>gravel failure of some sort. Although I had been previously unaware of
>the phenomenon of defective gravel, I now feel quite reassured.
>
>The Estes' website goes even further to reassure me:
>http://www.estesco.com/beliefs.html

now I have to clean my monitor.
sigh.
>

--
sophie

www.freewebs.com/fishstuff
(under construction. ish.)

[Gill Passman]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
m...
> Ionizer wrote:
> > I'm just in the process of setting up two new aquariums, and I happened
> > to read the "directions" on the back of one of my bags of
> > "Estes'"gravel. I felt reassured to read that this gravel carried a
> > manufacturer's guarantee: "If this product is found faulty due to
> > workmanship it will be replaced."
> >
> > So far, this gravel is performing within my expectations for gravel, but
> > I have put my receipt in a safe place just in case I experience a sudden
> > gravel failure of some sort. Although I had been previously unaware of
> > the phenomenon of defective gravel, I now feel quite reassured.
> >
> > The Estes' website goes even further to reassure me:
> > http://www.estesco.com/beliefs.html
> >
> Heh. One of my fish store friends called the really bright multicolored
> gravel "clown puke" behind the customers' backs. Nice to know clown
> puke is guaranteed and backed by God himself. ;-)
>
> --
> Elaine T __
> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
> rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

Thanks Elaine!!!

I've been trying for weeks to come up with a way to describe coloured
gravel....you've hit the nail on the head - LOL

[Alpha]

All you have to do is package up the bad gravel and mail it back to them for
a complete refund, right?

"Ionizer" > wrote in message
...
> I'm just in the process of setting up two new aquariums, and I happened to
> read the "directions" on the back of one of my bags of "Estes'"gravel. I
> felt reassured to read that this gravel carried a manufacturer's
> guarantee: "If this product is found faulty due to workmanship it will be
> replaced."
>
> So far, this gravel is performing within my expectations for gravel, but I
> have put my receipt in a safe place just in case I experience a sudden
> gravel failure of some sort. Although I had been previously unaware of
> the phenomenon of defective gravel, I now feel quite reassured.
>
> The Estes' website goes even further to reassure me:
> http://www.estesco.com/beliefs.html
>
> --
> Ian.
> (Now Playing: Satisfaction Guaranteed - Aquarium Rescue Unit)
>

[[email protected]]

Hmmm.... and (to state the obvious) the shipping would probably cost
three times the price of the original bag of gravel.

[David J. Braunegg]

Wow! I never thought about that. I have (as I recall) Estes' Ultrastone
gravel. (The kids picked the colors.) Some are broken or chipped and have
exposed a white interior. Should I be concerned about the interior or the
outside coloring?

Thanks,
Dave

"Sean" > wrote in message
...
>
> Haha...I hate to rain on your sarcastic parade but I thought on it for
> a moment. Some gravels are coated in a paint/paint-like coloring and that
> may be what they are talking about. I realized this when I was asking
> about certain brand names a while back and the lady in the LPS said that
> some gravels leech this coating which turns the water and may kill or
> sicken your fish.
>
> -Sean
>
> "Ionizer" > wrote in message
> ...
>> I'm just in the process of setting up two new aquariums, and I happened
>> to read the "directions" on the back of one of my bags of "Estes'"gravel.
>> I felt reassured to read that this gravel carried a manufacturer's
>> guarantee: "If this product is found faulty due to workmanship it will
>> be replaced."
>>
>> So far, this gravel is performing within my expectations for gravel, but
>> I have put my receipt in a safe place just in case I experience a sudden
>> gravel failure of some sort. Although I had been previously unaware of
>> the phenomenon of defective gravel, I now feel quite reassured.
>>
>> The Estes' website goes even further to reassure me:
>> http://www.estesco.com/beliefs.html
>>
>> --
>> Ian.
>> (Now Playing: Satisfaction Guaranteed - Aquarium Rescue Unit)
>>
>
>

[David J. Braunegg]

"lgb" > wrote in message
...
>> Heh. One of my fish store friends called the really bright multicolored
>> gravel "clown puke" behind the customers' backs. Nice to know clown
>> puke is guaranteed and backed by God himself. ;-)
>>
> But it still isn't worth **** for a planted tank :-). And, IMNSHO,
> there ain't no other kind!

If I switched from the clown puke to natural pebbles, will it make any
difference for my plants?

Dave

[Elaine T]

David J. Braunegg wrote:
> "lgb" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>>Heh. One of my fish store friends called the really bright multicolored
>>>gravel "clown puke" behind the customers' backs. Nice to know clown
>>>puke is guaranteed and backed by God himself. ;-)
>>>
>>
>>But it still isn't worth **** for a planted tank :-). And, IMNSHO,
>>there ain't no other kind!
>
>
> If I switched from the clown puke to natural pebbles, will it make any
> difference for my plants?
>
> Dave
>
>
Size is very important for plant substrate. If you have pebbles or
pea-sized gravel of any color and switch to 2-3 mm or finer (down to
coarse sand) of any color, your plants will root better. Also, less
gunk will be trapped deep in the gravel so you don't have to gravel-vac
around the plants and disturb the roots. For inert quartz gravel or
sand, coated or uncoated does not really matter.

Good plant media like Flourite, Onyx, or Eco Complete are uncoated clays
and have additional functions. They contain minerals which the plants
can use and trap nutrients from the water and release it to the roots of
the growing plant. If you want to grow plants like swords, grasses, or
crypts that rely heavily on their roots, these substrates work better
than normal gravels.

If you want a specific look or color, you can buy a fine brightly
colored gravel or sand and mix laterite clay into the bottom half. The
laterite will also provide iron and minerals and works very well. Just
don't stir up or vac the bottom half of the gravel or you get a cloud of
laterite billowing into the tank.

Color affects fish rather than plants. Shy fish tend to show their
colors better over darker colors than bright ones. This becomes less of
an issue when all the substrate is covered with plants. ;-)

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Ionizer]

"Alpha" > wrote in message
...
> All you have to do is package up the bad gravel and mail it back to
> them for a complete refund, right?

You raise a valid point. I wish I'd had the foresight to sign up for
their in-home service plan.

Regards,
Ian.

[Gill Passman]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
. ..
> David J. Braunegg wrote:
> > "lgb" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >
> >>>Heh. One of my fish store friends called the really bright
multicolored
> >>>gravel "clown puke" behind the customers' backs. Nice to know clown
> >>>puke is guaranteed and backed by God himself. ;-)
> >>>
> >>
> >>But it still isn't worth **** for a planted tank :-). And, IMNSHO,
> >>there ain't no other kind!
> >
> >
> > If I switched from the clown puke to natural pebbles, will it make any
> > difference for my plants?
> >
> > Dave
> >
> >
> Size is very important for plant substrate. If you have pebbles or
> pea-sized gravel of any color and switch to 2-3 mm or finer (down to
> coarse sand) of any color, your plants will root better. Also, less
> gunk will be trapped deep in the gravel so you don't have to gravel-vac
> around the plants and disturb the roots. For inert quartz gravel or
> sand, coated or uncoated does not really matter.
>
> Good plant media like Flourite, Onyx, or Eco Complete are uncoated clays
> and have additional functions. They contain minerals which the plants
> can use and trap nutrients from the water and release it to the roots of
> the growing plant. If you want to grow plants like swords, grasses, or
> crypts that rely heavily on their roots, these substrates work better
> than normal gravels.
>
> If you want a specific look or color, you can buy a fine brightly
> colored gravel or sand and mix laterite clay into the bottom half. The
> laterite will also provide iron and minerals and works very well. Just
> don't stir up or vac the bottom half of the gravel or you get a cloud of
> laterite billowing into the tank.
>
> Color affects fish rather than plants. Shy fish tend to show their
> colors better over darker colors than bright ones. This becomes less of
> an issue when all the substrate is covered with plants. ;-)
>
> --
> Elaine T __
> http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
> rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

OK I confess - I once had gravel the colour of Elaine's web link in a
goldfish tank....(purple for those in black and white). I'm pretty sure if I
look hard enough I could still find enough (even after 10 years) to cover
the bottom of a small tank.....

Never went for the true "clown puke" though......

Seriously, I have some natural stuff that is very hard to plant stuff
in....the smaller the grains the easier to plant

[Ionizer]

"Elaine T" > wrote in message
. ..

> Size is very important

I had always hoped that this wasn't true.

In the context of rooting aquatic plants in gravel (three Amazon Sword
plants in the case of new my gravel-lined tank,) I have piled the
(larger than pea-sized) gravel slightly higher around the plants and
thought I might be okay if I didn't concentrate my future vacuuming in
the very immediate vicinity of those plants, so as to avoid disturbing
the roots. I really want to start things off right in these two new
tanks of ours. No fish have been added to either tank yet, but the
cloudiness of the water has cleared in both and it's just about time...

Regards,
Ian.
(Now Playing: Tanks For The Memories - Bob Hope)

[Elaine T]

Ionizer wrote:
> "Alpha" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>All you have to do is package up the bad gravel and mail it back to
>>them for a complete refund, right?
>
>
> You raise a valid point. I wish I'd had the foresight to sign up for
> their in-home service plan.
>
> Regards,
> Ian.
>
>
Ah, well. My monitor needed cleaning anyway. ROFL!

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Elaine T]

Ionizer wrote:
> "Elaine T" > wrote in message
> . ..
>
>
>>Size is very important
>
>
> I had always hoped that this wasn't true.
>
> In the context of rooting aquatic plants in gravel (three Amazon Sword
> plants in the case of new my gravel-lined tank,) I have piled the
> (larger than pea-sized) gravel slightly higher around the plants and
> thought I might be okay if I didn't concentrate my future vacuuming in
> the very immediate vicinity of those plants, so as to avoid disturbing
> the roots. I really want to start things off right in these two new
> tanks of ours. No fish have been added to either tank yet, but the
> cloudiness of the water has cleared in both and it's just about time...
>
> Regards,
> Ian.
> (Now Playing: Tanks For The Memories - Bob Hope)
>
>
Mulm filters down through pea sized gravel and you will end up with
sludge at the plant roots. Been there, made that mistake. ;-) Also
roots simply can't grow as finely, anchor as well, and take up nutrients
as well in coarse gravel. When I took apart my first tank planted in
fine gravel, I was amazed at the difference in the plant roots vs. the
Estes pea gravel I had in my first tank.

You could pot your plants in Flourite or something suitable and leave
the bright, fancy gravel in the rest of the tank for your kids. Pots
can be camoflaged with driftwood, or there are some aquarium ornaments
that double as plant pots.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Rocco Moretti]

Elaine T wrote:
>>
> Mulm filters down through pea sized gravel and you will end up with
> sludge at the plant roots. Been there, made that mistake. ;-)

I was under the impression you were supposed to leave mulm at the roots
of plants (fertilizer).

[Elaine T]

Rocco Moretti wrote:
> Elaine T wrote:
>
>>>
>> Mulm filters down through pea sized gravel and you will end up with
>> sludge at the plant roots. Been there, made that mistake. ;-)
>
>
> I was under the impression you were supposed to leave mulm at the roots
> of plants (fertilizer).

A little mulm is fine, but remember that aquatic plants can take
nutrients from the water column. It's really only the heavy-feeding
crypts, swords, and aponogetons that need part of their nutrients
through the roots.

I've found that gunk gets trapped in the big spaces between pea gravel
rather than going to the filter. The big spaces also let stuff filter
down pretty far into the gravel bed, and the void space in a pea gravel
bed is quite large. In time, you can end up with a startling amount of
mulm in the gravel. Once too much gets trapped in there, it starts
feeding algae and possibly even anaerobic bacteria along with the plants.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com