Travertine Marble tile. Reef safe?

jbird69 · 11/24/2009, 10:34 PM

I was thinking about mass producing some diy frag plugs. Being a tile contractor I have tile up the wazooooo. I know that ceramic and porcelain tile are ok but travertine frag plugs would look a lot better and is substantially easier to cut. I heard or read somewhere that natural stone tiles may leach harmfull stuff into the tank. Any thoughts?

Here is a breif description of what it is.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travertine

jflick345 · 11/24/2009, 11:34 PM

I know the main component of travertine is simply limestone but I know in general different colors in stone are from different mineral impurities such as iron in the crystalline structure. Just based on the uncertainty of what minerals are giving the stone its color it might be a hard sell to reefers. However, if you get the very pale to colorless tile it's most likely to have fewer impurities

homeboyreefer · 11/25/2009, 01:48 AM

my gf is italian and her family are old skool travertine and terraza craftsman, they advise against it as it is quite a soft stone

Randy Holmes-Farley · 11/25/2009, 06:22 AM

Chemically they are probably OK.

Here are some old but short threads:

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum....php?t=1040910

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...d.php?t=399437

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...d.php?t=401475

Boomer · 11/25/2009, 12:17 PM

j

Travertine Marble tile

What do you mean Travertine Marble tile ? There is no such thing

Travertine is Travertine and Marble is Marble. So, the tiles are one or the other and cannot be both. Must be a tile industry name used incorrectly

jbird69 · 11/25/2009, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boomer

j

Travertine Marble tile

What do you mean Travertine Marble tile ? There is no such thing

Travertine is Travertine and Marble is Marble. So, the tiles are one or the other and cannot be both. Must be a tile industry name used incorrectly

Travertine is one of several natural stones that are used for paving patios and garden paths. It is sometimes known as travertine limestone, sometimes as travertine marble; these are the same stone, even though it is neither limestone nor marble. The stone is characterised by pitted holes and troughs in its surface.

Well Ill be a sono***un! Ive been installing this for customers for almost 2 decades and calling it travertine marble....guess I should do my homework

So whats the verdict Boomer? Reef safe? The stuff I want to use is a very pale light tan and moderately porous.

Garage1217 · 11/26/2009, 03:47 PM

Used it for a long time / no issues. I just buy them from home depot. They do not dissolve or any of the other myths that circulate. And I get coraline growing on them quicker than the ceramic plugs I use.

Boomer · 11/26/2009, 07:12 PM

Should be fine J

How dare they butcher geologic names

.......

If you see a bear run by do you say, "there goes another dog"

jbird69 · 11/27/2009, 10:10 AM

Thanks guys! I may finally use up some of this travertine mar..... uhhh....travertine

noahm · 11/27/2009, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boomer

Should be fine J

How dare they butcher geologic names

.......

If you see a bear run by do you say, "there goes another dog"

Funny story. A big Newfoundland got hit by a car near a small town I lived by. The whole town was abuzz about the bear, and several people had gotten out and even poked at it, swearing it was a bear.

adivol · 07/06/2012, 04:01 AM

A Travertine tile is far better than porcelain tile because it more attractive and easy to maintain than normal porcelain tile.

11/24/2009, 10:34 PM	#1
jbird69 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The beautiful State of Jefferson Posts: 2,751	Travertine Marble tile. Reef safe? I was thinking about mass producing some diy frag plugs. Being a tile contractor I have tile up the wazooooo. I know that ceramic and porcelain tile are ok but travertine frag plugs would look a lot better and is substantially easier to cut. I heard or read somewhere that natural stone tiles may leach harmfull stuff into the tank. Any thoughts? Here is a breif description of what it is. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travertine __________________ Broke Back Mountain is not a movie, its the pile of dead ninjas in Chuck Norris' back yard

11/25/2009, 06:22 AM	#4
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Chemically they are probably OK. Here are some old but short threads: http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum....php?t=1040910 http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...d.php?t=399437 http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...d.php?t=401475 __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

11/25/2009, 12:17 PM	#5
Boomer Bomb Technician (EOD) Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 11,842	j Travertine Marble tile What do you mean Travertine Marble tile ? There is no such thing Travertine is Travertine and Marble is Marble. So, the tiles are one or the other and cannot be both. Must be a tile industry name used incorrectly __________________ If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up Seawater Chemistry, Geology, ID Marine Life, Collecting Science Books, Explosives Technology, Audiophile An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be.

11/26/2009, 03:47 PM	#7
Garage1217 GET OFF MY LAWN Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Globally Posts: 5,863	Used it for a long time / no issues. I just buy them from home depot. They do not dissolve or any of the other myths that circulate. And I get coraline growing on them quicker than the ceramic plugs I use. __________________ No great genius has ever existed without some touch of madness ~ Aristotle If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it? ~ Albert Einstein I'm just as bent as ever. Hellishly so ~ Captain Jack Sparrow Current Tank Info: Systems and goodies by Lee-Mar / Coralvue / Neptune Systems / Jager / Spectrapure / Cree / Meanwell + more!

11/26/2009, 07:12 PM	#8
Boomer Bomb Technician (EOD) Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 11,842	Should be fine J How dare they butcher geologic names ....... If you see a bear run by do you say, "there goes another dog" __________________ If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up Seawater Chemistry, Geology, ID Marine Life, Collecting Science Books, Explosives Technology, Audiophile An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be. Last edited by Boomer; 11/26/2009 at 07:17 PM.

11/24/2009, 11:34 PM	#2
jflick345 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 884	I know the main component of travertine is simply limestone but I know in general different colors in stone are from different mineral impurities such as iron in the crystalline structure. Just based on the uncertainty of what minerals are giving the stone its color it might be a hard sell to reefers. However, if you get the very pale to colorless tile it's most likely to have fewer impurities

11/25/2009, 01:48 AM	#3
homeboyreefer Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 212	my gf is italian and her family are old skool travertine and terraza craftsman, they advise against it as it is quite a soft stone

11/27/2009, 10:10 AM	#9
jbird69 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The beautiful State of Jefferson Posts: 2,751	Thanks guys! I may finally use up some of this travertine mar..... uhhh....travertine __________________ Broke Back Mountain is not a movie, its the pile of dead ninjas in Chuck Norris' back yard

07/06/2012, 04:01 AM	#11
adivol Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 1	A Travertine tile is far better than porcelain tile because it more attractive and easy to maintain than normal porcelain tile.