intersting idea.... needs a bit of information...

[bearwithfish]

ok so i bounce around the world (ok the web) a lot and found an interesting question perhaps you all could address....

So there's substrate out there for reptile tanks that's called calci-sand and it's calcium carbonate. I found a page online about the dangers of over exposure harming reptiles and humans, but what about fish? I mean, there's lots of things we put in tanks that can be dangerous to us (the first that came to mind is just about every ich medication that's known to the state of california to cause cancer). So would calcium carbonate in your tank hurt your fish? Here's the link to the page on the dangers:

Calcium Sand - Dangers

So, assuming all of this is null and void because it's in a fish tank (which doesn't make a lot of sense but also wouldn't surprise me), what effect would this have on the water chemistry? Does anyone know if it would affect the amount of calcium or the pH or something in the tank?

I asked my friend and she said she had no idea about the water chemistry but when this stuff gets wet it hardens almost to a cement. If THAT is also true, what would happen if you used it like sand in your tank, stuck some plastic plants in it, and then filled it with water? Would it give you a solid substrate to hold plants in place and you wouldn't have to clean it? I know a lot of beneficial bacteria lives in the gravel/sand, but maybe a thin layer underneath would hold down your plants so your big fish (i.e. SA cichlids) couldn't "redecorate"?

I know you don't really use plants in saltwater but I figure someone out there might know about the calcium and all that, since obviously I don't.

Thanks!

(Sorry there's like three different questions, I was thinking really deeply into this)

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now the poster really had the geas turning here but my additional questions are

this poses an interesting question if it leaches Cal into the water could this be used as a way to dose? for example were this to be a feasible situation and if all tests are sound and safe if this lets a certain amount of Cal into the water could making a block of this to sit in the sump be a slowly releasing solution to dosing Cal??? again just an idea at this point and i am sure i am over looking some points but in the stage of theory it sounds plausible.....

so i need facts thoughts ideas and or links about this to help the poster and myself get a clear picture
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[drainbamage]

Check out the chemical analysis of aragonite- pretty sure its nearly identical

 

[Fragtastic Reef]

It may be an option for a substrate but need to ensure everything its composed of. Is it only leaching ca into the water or other chemicals.. Im not sure if it would work for addition of Ca since it may be unreliable, and inconsistant.