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Re: pumice
Diana writes:
> I used pumice in my substrate for my plants. The bag showed no list of
> nutrients or ingredients contained in the pumice. Did I do right by using
> it? What are some of the pros and cons on its use in the aquarium?
There are no real nutrients in pumice. It is a naturally occuring form of
the sintered glass that was touted heavily a few years ago for trickle
(wet/dry) filters. It has lots of porosity, and while it starts out
floating, it will sink in a few days. Amano uses it as a base for his
substrate, but adds stuff to it. My best planted tank so far (55 gallon)
uses two inches of pumice in the bottom. I stirred in a couple handfuls of
sphagnum peat and 900 mg of pyrophillitic clay. The clay has literally every
mineral nutrient, and the peat helps make the nutrients available. Then I
covered it with an inch of gravel, so the pumice/clay/peat mix wouldn't
float. Fluval peat pellets may be more effective, but its ability to lower
pH drastically may not be to your liking.
I know of no real cons to using it in a tank.
Bob Dixon
Cichlid Trader List Administrator
http://cichlidtrader.listbot.com