Glitter on pebbles

[manddave]

Hello

A couple of days ago my brother bought an aquarium. The lfs guy recommended some darkish colored gravel for the tank so we got that. When I went to set up the tank when we got home, I noticed glitter all through the pebbles and some drifting around the tank.

Does anyone know if it is safe to have the glitter in there?

Thanks

 

[DrOizo]

It's probably for the pebbles (they're not supposed to be underwater and the paint is coming off) I would say that it isnt good for the fish as they might think its food and try to eat it and also they could breathe it in causing problems with their gills If theres nothing in the tank I would suggest emptying all the water and taking out the gravel and getting some more. Or you could remove the gravel and catch all the bits with a fine mesh net but then there might be other chemicals form the pebbles still in the water left by the pebbles

 

[Lateral Line]

There is a whole class of minerals called "mica" that flake off into "glitter". If it is this it is a silicate mineral, so will not upset your water chemistry. I would expect it to settle out or be trapped by the fine media in your filter. If the pebbles look to have this inside them then it is probably okay.

If the "glitter" is some kind of surface coating that is flaking off, then I too, would suggest a thourough clean.

 

[guppymonkey]

I have painted gravel in one of my tanks (wasn't mine originally so you can't blame me for using bad gravel). As time goes on more and more paint seems to flake off and some of it floats around the tank. If the glitter is from painting I would suggest getting rid of the gravel and using something more natural. Paint can't be good for the fish. I am to get rid of my painted gravel when we move to a new appartment soon.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I bought plastic pebbles when I set up my 2nd biggest tank over a year ago and all glittery stuff came off them. I hadn;t put anything in the tank but it took me forever to get rid of it. I had to take all the gravel out and totally clean it to get rid of it.

I think you should get rid of it, but I just hope it isn't as much hassle for you as it was for me.