Looking To Change The Gravel....

[byrnezee]

Hey,
I've got a 66 gallon tank and want to change the theme to black and white,
Any clue as to what white/black rock is suitable to the aquarium, I've got clown loach.

Was thinking something like this:
My link

Thanks

 

[OldMan47]

For white rock you can use quartz. For black try looking at volcanic rock. It exists in several color variations including black.

 

[byrnezee]

thanks

 

[Timmy_Bee]

Most chain LFS's (pets at home etc) will sell bags of black & white gravel already mixed up, or the colours on their own. Or is the idea to buy some 'non-fish' gravel and save a buck?

 

[fluttermoth]

Coal is brilliant if you want black rocks. It won't affect your pH or hardess either.
Just give it a really good scrub in hot water and it's ready to go; I use it all the time

 

[waterdrop]

Coal is brilliant if you want black rocks. It won't affect your pH or hardess either.
Just give it a really good scrub in hot water and it's ready to go; I use it all the time

Wow! Really? Coal? I would have thought that would make a mess. That's really interesting. WD

 

[fluttermoth]

I know; you would, wouldn't you?!
It does need a lot of scrubbing.
I managed to get some of the stuff they use for steam engines, so it was lovely, huge chunks. Course, it's all hidden with plants and bogwood now!

 

[waterdrop]

Wow, still got me amazed. Let me know if you ever picture it in the tank pics area or something. I have Flourite Black that "looks" a little like tiny coal but of course is not at all. It has a small tendency to crumble and at times I see some of it making its way out of my tank when I empty my catch-bucket. I mixed it with a standard black LFS gravel but that's turned out to be disappointing because some of it had some white underneath some sort of coating and occasionally those bits show up after a gravel-clean.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[fluttermoth]

Yes, I've had black gravel that did that, very disappointing!
I'll try and move some wood and get some pics of it over the next couple of day (due a water change in there on friday anyway ) You just have to be sure it's real coal and not anthracite or any kind of smokeless fuel; I don't know if they're safe or not.

 

[fluttermoth]

I've put a few pics up, waterdrop

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/339414-fluttermoths-tank/

 

[waterdrop]

Excellent! Just visited! I need to revisit the Pittsburgh coal mine of my youth