What about river gravel?

[KAlt]

Does anyone have an opinion about using river gravel or pea gravel to make aquarium rock with portland cement?
After a good washing and maybe an acid bath.
If using crushed oyster shells puts phosphates in the water, why is it used so much?

 

[watty89]

i personally wouldnt use anything like that i would recomend using some prepackeged live or dry sand live sand of course being better in my opinion being that is has lots of benificial bacteria and micro organisamis that help to cycle a tank and help its overall health but crushed oyster shells do put some phosphates into your water but there main problem is the lack of natural filtration you will need to vacum it as you would in a freshwater tank but it really all comes down to personal preference on what to use but back to river gravel be sure to sterlize extremely well but i would def. not use any kind of cement on anything going in my tank as the acidity in the tank will cause it to break down and leach chemicalls into your tank i hope my advise can help you

 

[Reef Breeders Verified Sponsor]

i personally wouldnt use anything like that i would recomend using some prepackeged live or dry sand live sand of course being better in my opinion being that is has lots of benificial bacteria and micro organisamis that help to cycle a tank and help its overall health but crushed oyster shells do put some phosphates into your water but there main problem is the lack of natural filtration you will need to vacum it as you would in a freshwater tank but it really all comes down to personal preference on what to use but back to river gravel be sure to sterlize extremely well but i would def. not use any kind of cement on anything going in my tank as the acidity in the tank will cause it to break down and leach chemicalls into your tank i hope my advise can help you

A lot of people put cement rocks in their tanks, they must be cured first.

 

[KAlt]

Thanks for the advice.

 

[jformani]

i use all kinds of different things i add to cement. i've never used river gravel but i'm sure it would be fine. as long as its cured and washed before mixing it up.

 

[KAlt]

:smile: Thanks, I am going to experiment with some washed gravel, oyster shell and course rock salt and see what kind of texture I get. I am just starting to put my system together and I'm doing all the DIY I can. I am doing the rocks first so they can have a good long curing and soaking period while I get everything else put together.:wink: