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Post by orrum on Oct 7, 2015 15:01:25 GMT -5
I think round ceramics would work. Ingwah did obsidian but maybe it was that man made gravel where they glue dust together. I can assure you aquarium gravel as in rock won't let obsidian shine!
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Post by MrP on Oct 7, 2015 17:53:35 GMT -5
Your aquarium gravel just made me wonder what ever happened to ingawhI will bet she is still doing the '2 step'. I know that I am. Works great!.................................MrP
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Oct 7, 2015 19:36:51 GMT -5
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Enigman
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2013
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Post by Enigman on Oct 8, 2015 17:50:23 GMT -5
Now I did a batch of obsidian with the ceramics and some rounded aquarium gravel. Bad idea, the gravel must be scratching the obsidian because I can't get my classic Loto shine!!# Real aquarium gravel contains materials in the Mohs 6 to 7 range, while obsidian is Mohs 5 to 5.5. The gravel will definitely scratch obsidian.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Oct 8, 2015 20:43:34 GMT -5
Polished using above aquarium gravel
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Post by Jugglerguy on Oct 8, 2015 20:46:15 GMT -5
It's all scratched to pieces!
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Oct 9, 2015 4:55:58 GMT -5
Now I did a batch of obsidian with the ceramics and some rounded aquarium gravel. Bad idea, the gravel must be scratching the obsidian because I can't get my classic Loto shine!!# Real aquarium gravel contains materials in the Mohs 6 to 7 range, while obsidian is Mohs 5 to 5.5. The gravel will definitely scratch obsidian. I would have said the same thing Enigman. I believe ceramic media is often Mohs 7.5 or harder. So harder media can polish softer stones. No answers as to why. Perhaps the harder media has to have or become polished too. The gal that mentioned using aquarium gravel was using 'already polished' select gravel to do the above obsidian. Maybe 50% gravel, not sure. But probably heavy on the gravel filler. I will start using aquarium gravel in agate runs and collect it/set it aside till I get a nice polished supply for trying with obsidian eventually.
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Intheswamp
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Member since September 2015
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Post by Intheswamp on Oct 9, 2015 7:45:59 GMT -5
What size rocks are we talking about here as being aquarium gravel? Looking at the Lot-O barrel and gravel picture above, those look like rocks a little bigger than rocks I'm seeing (I haven't see them all, of course! ) sold for aquarium use. I'm thinking that having been polished in previous tumbles those rocks were even originally bigger than what is pictured. On a side note, I was looking at the aquarium offerings at Wallyworld so that might be where my problem lies in the size perception. One thing I did note...the first result that came up on Wallyworld's website was " Epoxy Coated". The second result was "High quality polymer coated gravel". The third one apparently was natural as it only stated that it was good for "beneficial bacteria" to grow on. Ok, so all gravel is not equal...<sigh> I'd think I'd rather just go to the local cement company and see what they offer...or just remember to bring a gallon of smalls back with me from my next rock hunting adventure and start making my own polish(ed) media. Great info passing through the thread. Btw, I did order some small and large ceramics from The Rockshed. Thanks for the recommendations.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Oct 9, 2015 8:04:25 GMT -5
Btw, I did order some small and large ceramics from The Rockshed. Thanks for the recommendations. Not sure if it has been mentioned but by anyone else but I break in all of my new ceramic media by running it in the loto by itself just like a load of rocks. It will by a little coarse and sharp when new. Chuck
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Post by broseph82 on Oct 9, 2015 8:05:44 GMT -5
What size rocks are we talking about here as being aquarium gravel? Looking at the Lot-O barrel and gravel picture above, those look like rocks a little bigger than rocks I'm seeing (I haven't see them all, of course! ) sold for aquarium use. I'm thinking that having been polished in previous tumbles those rocks were even originally bigger than what is pictured. On a side note, I was looking at the aquarium offerings at Wallyworld so that might be where my problem lies in the size perception. One thing I did note...the first result that came up on Wallyworld's website was " Epoxy Coated". The second result was "High quality polymer coated gravel". The third one apparently was natural as it only stated that it was good for "beneficial bacteria" to grow on. Ok, so all gravel is not equal...<sigh> I'd think I'd rather just go to the local cement company and see what they offer...or just remember to bring a gallon of smalls back with me from my next rock hunting adventure and start making my own polish(ed) media. Great info passing through the thread. Btw, I did order some small and large ceramics from The Rockshed. Thanks for the recommendations. Go to HomeDeport or Lowees. They have already rounded river gravel in select sizes. These aren't meant to look pretty inside a tank so I bet they'll be uncoated for the most part. fantastic5 gets these bags and tumbles them for he husbands students.
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jamesp
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Post by jamesp on Oct 9, 2015 8:08:30 GMT -5
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Intheswamp
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Post by Intheswamp on Oct 9, 2015 8:28:22 GMT -5
Yep, the BBS hardware stores have several varieties and sizes of rocks to pick from. I've actually done some "rock hunting" around those pallets...bags bust, ya know. I'd rather use "found" rocks, though...adds to the romance of it all.
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Intheswamp
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Post by Intheswamp on Oct 9, 2015 8:30:08 GMT -5
Yeah, that was the picture I was referring to....seems bigger than what I use to use for aquarium gravel, but that was a hundred years ago. What...1/4" to 1/2" sized rocks?
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Enigman
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2013
Posts: 163
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Post by Enigman on Oct 9, 2015 10:58:15 GMT -5
One thing I did note...the first result that came up on Wallyworld's website was " Epoxy Coated". The second result was "High quality polymer coated gravel". The third one apparently was natural as it only stated that it was good for "beneficial bacteria" to grow on. Being an aquarium keeper for decades back in the day, I can tell you that if it says that it's good for beneficial bacteria it means that the gravel is rough with pits and grooves that can hold bacteria colonies, which makes the gravel good for tanks with under-gravel filters. The same roughness or pits could harbor grit and pass it from batch to batch. Conversely, epoxy or polymer coated gravel fills in the pits so it is better for tanks without an undergravel filter and deters anaerobic bacteria. That gravel would be less likely to transmit grit but the epoxy would be short lived in a tumbler. I've always kept an eye out for a source of inexpensive glass "shot" (mohs 5) for later stages. Haven't found an "inexpensive" one yet, but I have found a source of pre-rounded "jelly-bean" glass in many sizes at American Specialty Glass. You can also find 3/4 inch polished glass blobs at floral supply or craft stores.
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Intheswamp
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Post by Intheswamp on Oct 9, 2015 11:23:55 GMT -5
Btw, I did order some small and large ceramics from The Rockshed. Thanks for the recommendations. Not sure if it has been mentioned but by anyone else but I break in all of my new ceramic media by running it in the loto by itself just like a load of rocks. It will by a little coarse and sharp when new. Chuck Almost let this post slip by me, Chuck! How is the break-in done for the new ceramic? Thanks!
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Intheswamp
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Member since September 2015
Posts: 1,910
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Post by Intheswamp on Oct 9, 2015 11:26:25 GMT -5
One thing I did note...the first result that came up on Wallyworld's website was " Epoxy Coated". The second result was "High quality polymer coated gravel". The third one apparently was natural as it only stated that it was good for "beneficial bacteria" to grow on. Being an aquarium keeper for decades back in the day, I can tell you that if it says that it's good for beneficial bacteria it means that the gravel is rough with pits and grooves that can hold bacteria colonies, which makes the gravel good for tanks with under-gravel filters. The same roughness or pits could harbor grit and pass it from batch to batch. Conversely, epoxy or polymer coated gravel fills in the pits so it is better for tanks without an undergravel filter and deters anaerobic bacteria. That gravel would be less likely to transmit grit but the epoxy would be short lived in a tumbler. I've always kept an eye out for a source of inexpensive glass "shot" (mohs 5) for later stages. Haven't found an "inexpensive" one yet, but I have found a source of pre-rounded "jelly-bean" glass in many sizes at American Specialty Glass. You can also find 3/4 inch polished glass blobs at floral supply or craft stores. Yeah, I always used natural rock in tanks...under gravel filters, too. I figure the epoxy would not last too long, even if it did last a long time I figure sooner or later some would come out and create a hiding place for grit. I'd rather just start with uncoated gravel and wear it down over a period of time to smooth.
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Oct 9, 2015 14:33:36 GMT -5
Hi friends,
Sorry I've been out of the loop for a while. Thanks for thinking of me. For the folks that are concerned about using agate/quartz as media rather than ceramic, try this test:
Take a piece of ceramic media - it can even be one you've used a lot that has been well smoothed. Then take a small piece of nicely rounded, polished agate or quartz like I use in the Lot-O-Tumbler. Scrape the tip of your thumbnail across the ceramic media. Now scrape across the agate. To me, the difference is very clear - the agate is much smoother. I believe that's why it gives a smoother polish to obsidian.
Best wishes,
Inga
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ingawh
starting to spend too much on rocks
The rock wants to shine, I just help it get there
Member since February 2011
Posts: 194
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Post by ingawh on Oct 9, 2015 14:44:45 GMT -5
Let's see if I remember how to post pictures. This is a load of finished obsidian shown with the exact gravel used to polish it. This is one full load. I just get better results with the gravel than the ceramic media, which doesn't get as smooth as the agate/quartz gravel.
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Post by rockpickerforever on Oct 9, 2015 15:49:30 GMT -5
Happy belated birthday ingawh. You missed the festivities for all the rest of us that share that same day!
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Post by captbob on Oct 9, 2015 15:54:13 GMT -5
Maybe it's not too late for James to send her some mud too!
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