Bones?

**Farmboy** · 01-29-2009, 09:05 PM

Has anyone tried using old bones in an aquascape? I have access to some old cow bones; femurs, jawbones, spine, and some cool looking bits of pelvis. These bones are years old and very weathered. Would they leach to many minerals or would they work in a planted fish tank? Anyone? Old bones?

demosthenes · 01-29-2009, 10:04 PM

idk, it sounds pretty cool. what about a few ribs or something? Try boiling them in water for 20 minutes, and then put them in the tank. Keep an eye on them for a few weeks, and if they get any fungi or algae or anything, take 'em out. It's definitely worth a try though.

brion0 · 01-29-2009, 10:08 PM

Just a guess, but id say bones would have the same effect as shells. Since bones arent as hard as shells, may leach more. You realy are a farmboy.

Kozy · 01-29-2009, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brion0

Just a guess, but id say bones would have the same effect as shells. Since bones arent as hard as shells, may leach more. You realy are a farmboy.

This, sort of the reverse effect of adding drift woods to a tank.

**mistergreen** · 01-29-2009, 11:47 PM

yikes, what kind of decor are you going for?
It would be funny to have bones & skulls with piranhas .

make sure to boil the bones.. These are lots of organic matter inside the bone, i.e. marrow. But I personally would go for fake bones.

**Farmboy** · 01-30-2009, 12:36 AM

Nothing macabre! More of a Nebraska version of Texas holey rock. Where chips expose some of the soft center, a place for a stem. Holes and bridges for the fish to swim through. They would really and texture. I've alomst got myself talked out of the red oak that I was going to use on my next setup. Oh my!

Left C · 01-30-2009, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistergreen

... It would be funny to have bones & skulls with piranhas. ...

It would be funny.

You could add some red food coloring in the water too.

Sixwing · 02-02-2009, 07:59 PM

I'm curious to see how this would work, too!
Had an idea involving elk antler a while ago, but I'm not certain how well the antler would hold up - they break down pretty fast outside. ^^

**MedRed** · 02-03-2009, 12:32 AM

that would be awesome for a piranha tank... a rib cage and a skull... lol

DiscusIt'sWhats4DinneR · 02-03-2009, 02:03 AM

bones will be fine in the tank. i would boil them before adding though to kill any nasties or clean off any junk that may be left behind.

Trallen44 · 02-06-2009, 03:09 AM

I would like to see pics of this if you do it.

waterfaller1 · 02-06-2009, 09:41 AM

Ewewew

monkeyruler90 · 02-08-2009, 04:41 AM

hmmm. this sounds interesting. try it out and post the pics.

01-29-2009, 09:05 PM	#1
Farmboy Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (20/100%) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Tilden, NE Posts: 78	Bones? Has anyone tried using old bones in an aquascape? I have access to some old cow bones; femurs, jawbones, spine, and some cool looking bits of pelvis. These bones are years old and very weathered. Would they leach to many minerals or would they work in a planted fish tank? Anyone? Old bones?

01-29-2009, 10:04 PM	#2
demosthenes Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (56/100%) Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 927	idk, it sounds pretty cool. what about a few ribs or something? Try boiling them in water for 20 minutes, and then put them in the tank. Keep an eye on them for a few weeks, and if they get any fungi or algae or anything, take 'em out. It's definitely worth a try though. __________________ Wilson 10g Globe l'Attente - As of 8/10, gone nano-reef! 46g High-Tech, last updated 1/14

01-29-2009, 10:08 PM	#3
brion0 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Idaho Falls,ID Posts: 422	Just a guess, but id say bones would have the same effect as shells. Since bones arent as hard as shells, may leach more. You realy are a farmboy. __________________ Brion 29 gal journal http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...al-brion0.html 55 gal low tech http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/ta...tml#post775294

01-29-2009, 11:47 PM	#5
mistergreen Bow ties are cool (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 12,897	yikes, what kind of decor are you going for? It would be funny to have bones & skulls with piranhas . make sure to boil the bones.. These are lots of organic matter inside the bone, i.e. marrow. But I personally would go for fake bones. __________________ DIY High Tech Tank forum http://aquatictechtank.net A forum dedicated to design and program aquatic tanks

02-03-2009, 12:32 AM	#9
MedRed Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (26/100%) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 1,517	that would be awesome for a piranha tank... a rib cage and a skull... lol __________________ I have slain all of the Dragons! You owe me!

01-30-2009, 12:36 AM	#6
Farmboy Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (20/100%) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Tilden, NE Posts: 78	Nothing macabre! More of a Nebraska version of Texas holey rock. Where chips expose some of the soft center, a place for a stem. Holes and bridges for the fish to swim through. They would really and texture. I've alomst got myself talked out of the red oak that I was going to use on my next setup. Oh my!

02-02-2009, 07:59 PM	#8
Sixwing Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southwestern CO Posts: 118	I'm curious to see how this would work, too! Had an idea involving elk antler a while ago, but I'm not certain how well the antler would hold up - they break down pretty fast outside. ^^

02-03-2009, 02:03 AM	#10
DiscusIt'sWhats4DinneR Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9/100%) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 720	bones will be fine in the tank. i would boil them before adding though to kill any nasties or clean off any junk that may be left behind. __________________ Discus, (The Other White Meat.)

02-06-2009, 03:09 AM	#11
Trallen44 Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Allen, TX Posts: 708	I would like to see pics of this if you do it. __________________ Tim Trallen44's True low tech 55 gal. journal

02-06-2009, 09:41 AM	#12
waterfaller1 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (63/100%) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 4,861	Ewewew __________________ Keep smiling~Carole

02-08-2009, 04:41 AM	#13
monkeyruler90 Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (64/100%) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 1,305	hmmm. this sounds interesting. try it out and post the pics. __________________ --Oscar. Fluval pimp #4 aka PIMP master! I SAID ITS GREAT TO BE A FLORIDA GATOR!! 40 gallon LED fixture

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