Tera Cotta Pots

Hi all,

I wonder if anyone has done any research regarding the use of tera cotta pots in tanks and the ph/kh/gh levels?

I went to see a seasoned breeder today and when I told him that I was going to be using tera cotta pots to breed some of my fish in he mentioned that they seem to harden up the water.

Please give me feedback on this matter because I don't want to go ahead and set the whole thing up only to discover that they do indeed increase the above levels.

I eagerly await any responses to this question.

TIA

 

I have used unglazed terracotta pots in my tanks for years without any ill effect.

 

I have 3 big terra cota pots in my angel tank and they breed like mad.

 

No ill effects that I have seen. I have some a few in a 1ft tank and the fish seem happy.

 

Hi Sky,

(Oooooo, I love saying that, sounds so nice)

It looks like this is another one of these internet rumors. This is total and utter rubbish. Terracotta pots are made of clay and are burnt, so the material the pot is made of is so longer soluble besides the fact that it does not contain calcium, magnesium or carbonate which can influence hardness.

So, terracota pots are used in my tanks, left right and centre and I breed discus on them which are super sensitive to hardness, so please tell your friend that the professor says he is wrong!

Kind regards,

Dirk

 

Thank you all especially @Dirk Bellstedt, I'm glad you love my name, I'll tell you the history behind it soon...

Yeah, I have also used the unglazed pots in my tanks before, but I just wondered if there was anything behind what this guy was telling me regarding the increase in water hardness. He also seems to feel that some of the wood he is using is making his water hard. I don't believe that either.

Glad I can put this theory to bed without any worries...

 

Terra cotta pots are generally fired to a minimum of bisque ware,even stone ware - at these temperatures a thermogenic change occurs in the clay where the silicates fuse - rendering them(and all other composites in the clay) completely innert....

 

Thanks Azure for confirming this.

Sky, your friend has also got it completely wrong with the wood as well.......

Kind regards,

Dirk