Topic: Magnetite or hemitite for substrate

[jmabbott888]

Would Hemitite or Magnetite work as a substrate for convicts? I get ALOT of this from our dredging & highbanking for gold in the Kern river. Thanks for the replies in advance.

[Gerry]

try vinegar on them and if they fizz don't use them

[Katt]

Sorry never heard of this stuff.   

[jmabbott888]

I'll try the vinegar thing, what it is is the heavy particles in most river sand that is black in color & heavy, magnitite is can be picked up with a magnet & hemitite won't be picked up by one. We find this stuff in the Kern river when we go gold prospecting, after panning the sand down this & the gold is what is left, I'll keep the gold & use the magnetite for the tank since the fish don't need the gold lol.

[Gerry]

I wouldn't use something you can pick up with a magnet as it must contain metals

[mrbigfish]

Agree with Gerry, no metal.