[GSAS-Member] Mineral Rock vs Insomnia

[Shango Los <shango@shangolos.com>]

Hello Folks,

There was some brief discussion regarding the "mineral rock" that AquaticMagic 
sells awhile back.  I woke up tonight and decided to do a bit of research with 
my insomnia time and these are the best links I have found.

You will notice that AquaticMagic describes the rock to be Montmorillonite from 
the districts where crystal shrimp come from in nature.  I have found no 
evidence to suggest that there is anything actually unique to the 
Montmorillonite in this area.    
http://cgi.ebay.com/Mineral-Rock-Cherry-Crystal-Red-Shrimp-Color-Enhancer_W0QQitemZ250305180951QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3a4759f517

Montmorillonite is clay with minerals, mostly of French and Colorado origin.  I 
think it is because of mountain run-off:  
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montmorillonite

Montmorillonite is a very soft phyllosilicate group of minerals that typically 
form in microscopic crystals, forming a clay. It is named after Montmorillon in 
France. Montmorillonite, a member of the smectite family, is a 2:1 clay, 
meaning that it has 2 tetrahedral sheets sandwiching a central octahedral 
sheet. The particles are plate-shaped with an average diameter of approximately 
one micrometre. Members of this group include saponite.

It is the main constituent of the volcanic ash weathering product, bentonite.

The water content of montmorillonite is variable and it increases greatly in 
volume when it absorbs water. Chemically it is hydrated sodium calcium 
aluminium magnesium silicate hydroxide (Na,Ca)0.33(Al,Mg)2(Si4O10)(OH)2·nH2O. 
Potassium, iron, and other cations are common substitutes, the exact ratio of 
cations varies with source. It often occurs intermixed with chlorite, 
muscovite, illite, cookeite and kaolinite.

I found this interesting in the description too.  I wonder what it has in 
common with Turface?

"Montmorillonite can be (calcined) to produce arcillite, a porous, calcined 
clay sold as a soil conditioner for playing fields and other soil products such 
as for use as bonsai soil as an alternative to akadama.["

The description here regarding its use in ponds suggests it has super healing 
powers for fish, animals and humans. In fact, most of the links I found were 
for human dietary supplements.
http://www.aquaart.com/montmorillonite.html
 Montmorillonite Clay improves your Koi's immune system through nutrition and 
detoxification. It helps by eliminating waste products, bacteria and decomposed 
organic matter in the water.

 Montmorillonite Clay performs wonders by purifying, clarifying and treating 
your water.

Also it has negatively charged ions
http://cgi.ebay.com/Beautiful-Healthy-KOI-Use-Montmorillonite-Clay-2-lb_W0QQitemZ190304775396QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2c4f0c6ce4
The secret of TERRAPOND’s success as a Koi and fish treatment is that it is a 
nano particle with an extremely large surface area. The negative ion charge 
treats the bacteria and water contaminates like the enemies they are and 
eliminates them from your fish containment areas. TERRAPOND is derived from 
Montmorillonite clay, called in today’s terms, ION-MIN.

The fact there is a negative ion and a large surface area makes it highly 
effective as a clarifying agent for Aquariums, fountains, ponds, and small 
lakes. When there are Koi, goldfish, betas, and other species of fish in the 
water, they thrive on the clay. The minerals are a benefit to them.

Here is an interesting discussion on Pleco Fanatics.
http://www.plecofanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84616

First, the purity of montmorillonite is between 95-98%, which is the best 
condition for feeding 
the shrimp. It also has a whitening effect. It can re-dye and keep 
crystal red shrimp healthy. Because of this, the white part of crystal red 
shrimp 
will become denser and denser. It can be put into the tank directly and will 
last for six months.

Second, stabilizing the water. Montmorillonite can activate nituifying bacteria 
and 
stabilize water for a long time, it is a great bacteriam bed for nitrifying 
bacteria. 
If the pH between 6.5-7.5, by ionization, the water will be clearer and 
deodorization. 
The heavy metal hydronium and deleterious float bacterium will be absorbed 
and killed. 

Third, the montmorillonite contains more than 50 mineral nutriments 

Fourth, the float grass can adsorb varied of nutriment in montmorillonite. So 
the 
montmorillonite can promt the growth of float grass root system

Finally, here is another supplier on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Mineral-Rock-Crystal-Red-Shrimp-Red-Bee-Shrimp_W0QQitemZ400087295206QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5d270fa4e6#ht_1013wt_754
 

So, I'm going to get some.  I'm going to call the stone store near University 
Village in the morning thought o see if I can buy some locally.  I would much 
prefer to buy a couple pieces of bigger rock cheap.


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