Vermiculite Used As A Substrate

[sherry44]

Can anyone tell me if I can use vermiculite as a substrate in a tropical freshwater set up?

Sherry44.

 

[gpgscott]

No way, can you say 'FLOATS',

Why do you want to try vermiculite? Scott

 

[doresy]

No way, can you say 'FLOATS',

Yeah, that's what I thought!!!! Gotta be a wind up surely

 

[TerraDreamer]

Hmmm...so I guess this means styrofoam packing peanuts are out of the question, too?

 

[sherry44]

No not a wind up.
Perhaps you are all thinking of pearlite? not vermiculite.

Vermiculite apparently will hold upto 4 times it's own weight of water.

I was asking the question because I found an article referring to it at:

http/www.algone.com/substrate.php

Sherry44.

 

[doresy]

Ok, sherry44, I stand corrected over this vermiculite stuff . It sounds pretty good stuff for substrate according to that link.

The stuff I am calling vermiculite is as light as a feather and indeed floats. It also contains a lot of dust particals. In the days when I were a lad, I used to go beach fishing and I used to buy ragworm which was in this vermiculite. At the end of the day we used to tip the leftovers in the sea and I just remember this stuff floating away. Maybe it is the same stuff but perhaps it absorbs water over a period?

Either way, personally I think it is going to be trouble and that there are so many substrates out there it probably is not worth considering this stuff.

Some may say there is only ONE substrate......sand! Inclined to agree and one day I will be kind to my corys and get rid of my black quarts and get me some!......bfn

 

[sherry44]

Thanks for that.

I was thinking of including the vermiculite with sand for the sake of plants.

 

[gpgscott]

opps sorry for the bad info, yes indeed I was thinkng of pearlite. Scott

 

[gpgscott]

Ok, did some research and it appears my initial reaction was correct. While vermiculite does have the capacity to absorb as much as 3.25 times its weight it is very light and so even with a full water load it will be lighter than water. Here is the math.

Weight of vermiculite varies from 4- 10 lbs/ cubic foot

Vermiculite will absorb between 2.2 and 3.25 times its weight in water

using the high number for both 10 x 3.25 = 32.5 lbs / cubic foot

freshwater weighs 60 lbs/ cubic foot

In order to sink the fully waterlogged product would have to weigh more than 60 lbs/ cubic foot.

You will note the referenced article talks about using it as a lower layer apparently they intend for it to be weighed down by gravel or sand.

Sorry for the confusion. Scott

 

[sherry44]

Many thanks for your efforts on my behalf.

Sherry