Floating rock

[TJ]

I was surprised to come across a kind of rock that actually floats on the water because it's so light-weight and porous.

I'm pretty sure it's lava rock. The newts seem to like it...

...so I'm planning to get more. I originally got it at a gardening shop, at which time it had transplanted moss on it. It was only after removing the moss and soil that I found out it floated!

 

[mike]

Unfortunately, unless it is resin coated or something, it will probably get waterlogged and sink in time.

 

[coen]

Probably, yes...but still, it's pretty cool!

 

[TJ]

Well, if it sinks, I'll just take it out and let it dry before returning it. Easy enough!

It's been floating for several days already and it'll be interesting to see how long this continues...

 

[rancidevilpingu]

where did u get it from?

 

[TJ]

OK, the conclusion is that it floats, floats floats

and shows no signs of ceasing to do so. It turns out to be pumice stone, which is an inert volcanic rock produced with the trapped bubbles. I received another large chunk today from a florist today and added it to my C.e.popei tank.

 

[coen]

awesome pics

looks amazing

 

[kaysie]

lol, that last pic, the little dude on the right seems to be staring at it like "wow, what the heck is that thing?"

 

[robert]

looks like pumice "the rock that floats"
I had a friend who was a marine biology professor whose punk band was named for this rock. It does leave sandy bits in the water though and breaks easily so be careful.

 

[mark]

Tim that rock is amazing and your setup looks amazing too, can i ask you a few questions about your C.e.popei
1)how big do they grow?
2)what temperature do you keep them at?
3)how many do you have?
4)how big is your tank?.
sorry for so many questions.

Mark

PS. C.e.popei are my favourate cynops speicies

 

[TJ]

Rob, some pumice may be delicate as you mentioned but these ones really are pretty solid. No breaking bits. But I'll be careful with it just the same

Thanks Mark, glad to hear you're also a fan of popei, which are my favorite newt.

1) They can get to be around 14cm.
2) Around 24C in the summer, now at 22C, down to 18C in the winter.
3) 30+ adults (in 3 tanks), 150+ (?) juvies
4) The C.e tank pictured in the last pics above is 150cm long, 60cm tall and 60cm deep...and very heavy

The C.p one in the first pics at the top is 120cm long, 45cm tall and 60cm deep (and fits right underneath the biggest one).



(Message edited by TJ on October 10, 2003)

 

[mark]

Thanks for that Tim. another question though.

what plants are in there?