cork

Somewhere I ran across the idea of using cork for a backdrop. Looking
around on the web, I've found cork bark and cork wall tiles.

The cork bark is way too thick - usually 1"-2". I don't want to take
that much out of a 12" deep aquarium. The wall tiles are mostly 3/8"
which would be about right.

But I don't know if the tiles are safe, since most of them are made from
granulated cork in a binder.

If anyone on the group has used them with good results, could you let me
know what kind and where you bought them (if online or mail order).

Thanks.

BTW, I plan on making "rock" walls from clay that will go about halfway
up with cork the rest of the way. And maybe cork only on the sides.

"Larry Blanchard" wrote in message
...
Somewhere I ran across the idea of using cork for a backdrop. Looking
around on the web, I've found cork bark and cork wall tiles.

The cork bark is way too thick - usually 1"-2". I don't want to take that
much out of a 12" deep aquarium. The wall tiles are mostly 3/8" which
would be about right.

But I don't know if the tiles are safe, since most of them are made from
granulated cork in a binder.

If anyone on the group has used them with good results, could you let me
know what kind and where you bought them (if online or mail order).

Thanks.

BTW, I plan on making "rock" walls from clay that will go about halfway up
with cork the rest of the way. And maybe cork only on the sides.

I've read of people using cork inside the aquarium. It supposedly inert
(safe), but I don't think clay is chemically inert (unless it is kiln-fired,
or the type which sets at room temperature). I have/had links for modelling
clay which sets without a kiln and the manufacturer told me that it was
aquarium-safe (I never tried it, but filed the information away).
--
www.NetMax.tk

On Wed, 19 Oct 2005 22:20:12 -0400, "NetMax"
wrote:

"Larry Blanchard" wrote in message
. ..
Somewhere I ran across the idea of using cork for a backdrop. Looking
around on the web, I've found cork bark and cork wall tiles.

The cork bark is way too thick - usually 1"-2". I don't want to take that
much out of a 12" deep aquarium. The wall tiles are mostly 3/8" which
would be about right.

But I don't know if the tiles are safe, since most of them are made from
granulated cork in a binder.

If anyone on the group has used them with good results, could you let me
know what kind and where you bought them (if online or mail order).

Thanks.

BTW, I plan on making "rock" walls from clay that will go about halfway up
with cork the rest of the way. And maybe cork only on the sides.

I've read of people using cork inside the aquarium. It supposedly inert
(safe), but I don't think clay is chemically inert (unless it is kiln-fired,
or the type which sets at room temperature). I have/had links for modelling
clay which sets without a kiln and the manufacturer told me that it was
aquarium-safe (I never tried it, but filed the information away).


I've used pottery clay, unfired. What a mess. Worked well, though,
no toxicity problems.

"Charles" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 19 Oct 2005 22:20:12 -0400, "NetMax"
wrote:

"Larry Blanchard" wrote in message
.. .
Somewhere I ran across the idea of using cork for a backdrop.
Looking
around on the web, I've found cork bark and cork wall tiles.

The cork bark is way too thick - usually 1"-2". I don't want to take
that
much out of a 12" deep aquarium. The wall tiles are mostly 3/8"
which
would be about right.

But I don't know if the tiles are safe, since most of them are made
from
granulated cork in a binder.

If anyone on the group has used them with good results, could you let
me
know what kind and where you bought them (if online or mail order).

Thanks.

BTW, I plan on making "rock" walls from clay that will go about
halfway up
with cork the rest of the way. And maybe cork only on the sides.

I've read of people using cork inside the aquarium. It supposedly
inert
(safe), but I don't think clay is chemically inert (unless it is
kiln-fired,
or the type which sets at room temperature). I have/had links for
modelling
clay which sets without a kiln and the manufacturer told me that it was
aquarium-safe (I never tried it, but filed the information away).


I've used pottery clay, unfired. What a mess. Worked well, though,
no toxicity problems.

toxicity, thanks Charles. My concern was coming from terrestrial
gardening, where peat is added when the ground has too much clay, so that
got me thinking that there might be a pH concern.

self-hardening clay, here is the link I'd mentioned.
http://www.avesstudio.com/aves/
--
www.NetMax.tk

NetMax wrote:
"Larry Blanchard" wrote in message

BTW, I plan on making "rock" walls from clay that will go about
halfway up with cork the rest of the way. And maybe cork only on
the sides.

I've read of people using cork inside the aquarium. It supposedly
inert (safe), but I don't think clay is chemically inert (unless it
is kiln-fired, or the type which sets at room temperature). I
have/had links for modelling clay which sets without a kiln and the
manufacturer told me that it was aquarium-safe (I never tried it, but
filed the information away).

The clay is not a problem, my wife has two kilns :-).

And I know the cork is pretty much inert, but I'm still waiting for an
opinion on the binders used. Just paranoid I guess :-).