Does anybody know how to make aquarium rocks,...?

[Papa Red]

....The kind of stuff that you can hand- create and shape into forms
with little places for the fishes to hide in. I would like to learn how
to do this not only for my own eight tanks, but also to possibly make a
little money, for I am on Social Security Disability, and my rent has
been raised, my food stamps cut, as well as some of my medical coverage.
And it would be nice to have some way to make money with my abilities,
instead of getting it for my disabilities. Thanks for any help on this
matter. Pax Vobiscum,...~Dean.

[Jim Anderson]

In article >, Papa Red
says...

> ...The kind of stuff that you can hand- create and shape into forms
> with little places for the fishes to hide in. I would like to learn how
> to do this not only for my own eight tanks, but also to possibly make a
> little money, for I am on Social Security Disability, and my rent has
> been raised, my food stamps cut, as well as some of my medical coverage.
> And it would be nice to have some way to make money with my abilities,
> instead of getting it for my disabilities. Thanks for any help on this
> matter. Pax Vobiscum,...~Dean.
>
>

<http://www.2cah.com/netmax/diy_projects/sculptures/sculptures.shtml>
<http://www.garf.org/news15p1.html?topsecid=>

--
Jim Anderson
( 8(|) To eMail me, just pull "my_finger"

[Papa Red]

Thank you very much for posting those two websites. Can both of these
methods be used in freshwater aquariums? The way it read, it seemed to
be for sal****er tanks, although it didn't specifically say that. Pax
Vobiscum,...~Dean.

[Jim Anderson]

In article >, Papa Red
says...

> Thank you very much for posting those two websites. Can both of these
> methods be used in freshwater aquariums? The way it read, it seemed to
> be for sal****er tanks, although it didn't specifically say that. Pax
> Vobiscum,...~Dean.
>
>

Yes, I don't see why not, as long as you soak them long enough to purge
the toxins. Sal****er fish are much more sensitive than freshwater.

--
Jim Anderson
( 8(|) To eMail me, just pull "my_finger"

[Papa Red]

I came across this in my readings:

"Can you use aragonite is freshwater tanks?
Only brackish or African cichlid tanks. Aragonite can increase pH in
freshwater to about 8.4-9.0, depending on the bio-load. You can even put
some aragonite in an outside filter, or mix some in with your colored or
river type gravels. You can also use our one of our African Cichlid Mix
substrates which blend aragonite, calcite, and other minerals to
maintain a high pH, but at the same time, provide a darker, more rift
lake looking background for brighter colored fish and a more interesting
aquascape."

Does that mean the answer to my question is no, as far as to be
utilizing these rocks in aquariums with freshwater fishes in general?
Most of what I would make would be used to trade for fish and
fish-related supplies, but some would be used in my own tanks, those
with little or no live plants in them.
Thank for any help that you give.~Dean.

Links to my critter lover's & other newsgroup, and aquatic & non-aquatic
critter information links.
http://community.webtv.net/PapaRed2/MySiameseFighting

[[email protected]]

On Feb 19, 7:45 am, (Papa Red) wrote:
> I came across this in my readings:
>
> "Can you use aragonite is freshwater tanks?..."
>
> Does that mean the answer to my question is no, as far as to be
> utilizing these rocks in aquariums with freshwater fishes in general?

Aragonite is a readily-dissolved form of calcium carbonate, the other
and slightly less-dissolveable form being calcite. Reef rocks and, I
assume, Florida limestone are mostly aragonite and the stuff is sold
in bags for sal****er aquaria where a high pH is normal and desired.

In freshwater aragonite adds hardness to the water and raises pH. I
keep some "crushed coral" = aragonite in my freshwater filters to
harden the water a bit and keep pH above neutral (> 7.0). I live in
northern Canada where the water is naturally soft, so the aragonite
helps my aquariums.

Whether you want to use (lots of) aragonite in your aquariums depends
on your water (already hard in Florida?) and the fish. As you
mentioned, African Cichlids are one of the few fish that really thrive
in very hard water, another being livebearers that like not-quite-so-
hard water.

Happy fishkkeeping!
d.

[swarvegorilla]

"Papa Red" > wrote in message
...
> Thank you very much for posting those two websites. Can both of these
> methods be used in freshwater aquariums? The way it read, it seemed to
> be for sal****er tanks, although it didn't specifically say that. Pax
> Vobiscum,...~Dean.
>

can't see the posts before this one but if its 'garf' style just leach them
for a while
some of mine I left in a pond for over a year and I now got discus and
cardinals swimming amongst them
yea the pH is a stable 7.6 but hey
the discus breed
thats all I need
:)