Any ideas on how to get these...

[StunnaShadez]

I'm not a MARS member and sorry if I'm not allowed to post this here.

Anyways, I've been interested on getting tiles as my substrate. Any pros/cons? Anyone have any idea on where to get them and what the estimated cost would be? I think the guy in this thread (nano-reef.com) used marble tiles. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks.

Heres the thread and tiles:
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=96328&hl=tile+substrate

 

[funman1]

Hmm never tried it..
Interesting though..

 

[StunnaShadez]

Would waste/detritus accumulating in the cracks be too much of a problem here?

 

[dots]

No, it could be caulked in the same fashion as starboard on Barebottom tank. However, I am interested in the possible chemical interaction and causing a Ph change.........Though its late, I can't remember if Marble would interact or dissolve in seawater over time...isn't that the one that is dissolved just by lemon juice, (High School geology was a long time ago), or another inert material one could use.........I would suggest starboard first. Though the thought of a sacrificial calcium source sounds interesting......

Though I didn't read the thread and am only going by your original statement for a timely response tonight. I bet someone has discussed what I have mentioned there.

And its a public forum free for all to post in, I encourage you even more so if you are local due to the commonality that binds all to this specific forum.

 

[StunnaShadez]

Hmmm. I've never thought about the chemical reactions. Geology was my freshman year which was 3 years ago. I don't remember doing any experiments though. Where's a good place to purchase any starboard?

 

[dots]

Tap plastics.......

Well, Chemistry more than Geology I suppose...its an acid/base reaction.
You are going to make me read all those 5 pages of that thread aren't you???? I think it would become a source of Alk and Calcium as some add marble chips for that purpose I found and this may or may not be a good thing to do, depends on the rate of reaction I suppose. I thought I remembered that because it is metaphoric, marble was stable and inert....one could have troubling high, out of balance, or low PH constantly and could overlook the Marble was causing this. I think using an inert/stable material such as Starboard (namebrand used in the boating industry), but is the same as the HDPE cutting board material they carry.

I found this:

"A ROCK TESTER


Kids, in this activity you can pretend to be a geologist and test some rocks and other natural materials using a common chemical method.
You'll need a small sampling of rocks, making sure that some of them are limestone or marble, chalk, a few seashells, vinegar and/or lemon juice, and some clear plastic cups. Put the seashells in one cup, each rock in it's own cup, and a piece of chalk in a cup. Label each of them if necessary, especially to keep track of the rocks. Pour the lemon juice or vinegar over each material and note what happens. You should see bubbles form on some of the materials, although not from all of the rocks.

What's happening here? Vinegar and lemon juice are both weak, dilute acids (acetic acid and citric acid, respectively). Calcium carbonate is a chemical compound found in many natural materials, such as limestone and seashells. When calcium carbonate is exposed to acid, it chemically changes into new materials. One of these is carbon dioxide gas, which form the bubbles that you observe in the cup. When limestone is exposed to great heat and pressure under the earth's surface for many years, it turns into marble. It is still calcium carbonate and that is why marble will form bubbles with acid also. You get similar results when using chalk because it, too, is made of limestone."

 

[dots]

Oh my 12 pages......and not a lot of content......the tiles came from Lowes, I doubt he looked at the MSDS sheet to verify what they were.....marble is cool because of the impurities in it that give it character.....like copper maybe?

But the tank has been taken down so we won't know. Too bad.