timloco
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2012
Posts: 545
|
Post by timloco on Dec 15, 2015 12:04:26 GMT -5
I just got a couple of bags of aquarium gravel for my big fish tank, one is a nice granite and quartz river pebbles ranging from 1/3" or so up to about 3/4" in diameter. I'm thinking this might be a good medium for carrying the grit around. Way cheaper than ceramic media too. Anyone else ever use that?
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Dec 15, 2015 13:26:51 GMT -5
There has been a lot of discussions on here about using pet shop aquarium gravel and landscaping pea gravel for filler. Seems some folks have good luck with it. I prefer the reliability and durability of ceramic. I know I can toss it in with everything from soft temperamental obsidian all the way to my lake superior agates and I never have to wonder if my filler is causing damage. Its one of those preference things with no clear answer either way. Try it and if it works stick with it.
Chuck
|
|
timloco
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2012
Posts: 545
|
Post by timloco on Dec 15, 2015 13:56:31 GMT -5
Cool, I'll have to search for those old discussions. I do a rotary tumble on the first stage only and I think that'll work well for that stage especially with the harder agates I've been tumbling lately.
|
|
|
Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Dec 15, 2015 14:11:06 GMT -5
I have never used any filler in stage one. I always have some type of smaller rocks I want tumbled so If I have a load of largish very hard Lake superior agates I can toss in small obsidian, jasper, quartz or anything else with the agates in stage one (I never worry about mixing hardness in stage one). That way there is no waste in stage one. The whole barrel is full of rocks I want tumbled. After stage one the rocks might get classified by hardness then I will use ceramic filler if needed for the following stages. Filler in stage one is a waste of grit and time in my opinion. Maybe others will chime in though.
Chuck
|
|
rastageezer
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2013
Posts: 169
|
Post by rastageezer on Dec 15, 2015 15:03:36 GMT -5
I've used it and it works but ceramic as Chuck says is more consistent . Stage 1 just load up and go, no filler. (Oh by the way I think, as cute as they are, those snowflakes are slowing things down)
|
|
jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,158
|
Post by jamesp on Dec 16, 2015 8:31:07 GMT -5
I use aquarium gravel in the vibe for SiC 220/AO 500/1000/polish. Have picked out the pitted stones and have mostly smooth quartz pebbles. In those finer grits they last a long time.
If for any reason I need filler for the coarse grind in the rotary I use raw unsorted aquarium gravel. So I keep the two separated. May pick out of the best quartz pebbles out of the tumbled unsorted gravel to add to the vibe gravel. Did not take long to have a big batch of filler so I do not care if some spills during clean outs.
Better think about ceramics for obsidian, I just tumble Mohs 7 agates/jaspers etc.
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,685
|
Post by Fossilman on Dec 16, 2015 10:09:35 GMT -5
I use small river gravel as filler,keep using it till it just wears out-works great!!!
|
|
timloco
has rocks in the head
Member since April 2012
Posts: 545
|
Post by timloco on Dec 16, 2015 10:49:25 GMT -5
A lot of times when I fill up the stage one tumble the rocks are too close to the same size, I don't have enough smaller rocks to get a nice smooth tumble, so I think the gravel would be good for that. I'm going to give it a try on the next fill up.
|
|
rollingstone
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since July 2009
Posts: 236
|
Post by rollingstone on Dec 17, 2015 21:00:21 GMT -5
I'm with Drummond Island Rocks. Barrel space is precious and I don't want to put in anything that I don't plan to polish. I smack some bigger pieces into smaller pieces if need be. -Don
|
|