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| General Reef Discussion In this forum we discuss issues related to keeping marine and reef aquariums in a friendly flame-free environment. |
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09-14-2008, 03:54 PM
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#1
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 812
Reviews: 1
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Live Rock Substitute
I have some rock from an old african chichlid tank. I am not sure what kind of rock it is, but it never caused problems in the chiclid tank. It is extremely porous. I have been debating making my own live rock, but do you all think I could use this rock instead of live rock? Won't it just eventually get seeded with good stuff and work just as well?
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09-14-2008, 04:42 PM
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#2
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Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Sedalia, Mo
Posts: 5,939
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Could you post a pic of it so it might be identified? I would also add that it would be best to cook it if it can be used.
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09-14-2008, 04:45 PM
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#3
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Little Fishy
Join Date: May 2008
Location: denison tx
Posts: 473
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yes it will, just make sure to clean it really well before using it. i have some holy rock in my tank that came from a brackish setup i used to have. it turned a little green at first, but now it is slowly getting that reddish color on it. and it gives the fish a great place to hide.
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09-14-2008, 05:14 PM
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#4
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Ghost of reefers past
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Southern Oregon, Way West of Dimples ;)
Posts: 25,137
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Without knowing the composition of the rock I wouldn't use it, possible meatal in the rock, not to mention that it may be really loaded with phosphates from the old cichlid tank
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Cowboy is a verb, not a noun
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09-14-2008, 05:16 PM
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#5
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 812
Reviews: 1
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I don't have the ability to take a photo of the rock. After some searching I am positive it is tuffa rock. Which is commonly used in chiclid tanks.
this is a picture of tuffa rock |
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09-14-2008, 05:17 PM
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#6
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Clowns Galore!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Sedalia, Mo
Posts: 5,939
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Doug1
Without knowing the composition of the rock I wouldn't use it, possible meatal in the rock, not to mention that it may be really loaded with phosphates from the old cichlid tank
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That's were I was headed
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09-14-2008, 05:26 PM
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#7
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Ghost of reefers past
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Southern Oregon, Way West of Dimples ;)
Posts: 25,137
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If it's Tufa, that is or has been used as base rock in reefs, but I really recomment cooking it, I shudder to imagine the stuff thats asborbed into that rock 
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Cowboy is a verb, not a noun
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09-14-2008, 08:29 PM
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#8
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The Ninja MOD
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Planet P.....Why Me?
Posts: 13,624
Reviews: 23
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If you ever used any copper based meds in the other tank I wouldnt be too quick to use it. The copper will settle in the rock and leach back into your reef. Copper is bad news for inverts. Cooking is a must in my opinion if you do use it.
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09-15-2008, 12:29 AM
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#9
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 812
Reviews: 1
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its never seen any medication of any kind, and I would certainly cook it. So after looking around I see many people using different things for rock in their tanks. So my question is what are the differences in live rock that I buy from the the LFS for 7$ a pound and some homemade concrete or any other porous aquarium safe rock?
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09-15-2008, 01:39 AM
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#10
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The Ninja MOD
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Planet P.....Why Me?
Posts: 13,624
Reviews: 23
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As far as natural rock, there are some types that will leach certain things into the water ( cant rtemember what exactly  )The type of rock is important. The concrete DIY ock needs to be cured for a long time as the concrete does its thing. Hopefully someone will post more than the half info I just did  |
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09-15-2008, 03:58 AM
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#11
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Ghost of reefers past
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Southern Oregon, Way West of Dimples ;)
Posts: 25,137
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The homemade live rock base on concrete and aragonite with oyster shell. or any of the other weird things I have seen suggested to create porous areas in the rock, I made a bunch of it with concrete and oyster shell, while it was easy to form into custom shapes, shelves and caves, etc but over the long haul, after 4+ months to get the pH down to normal levels, the Phosphate levels were always problematic till I dumped it.
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Cowboy is a verb, not a noun
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09-15-2008, 01:04 PM
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#12
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Lexington, SC
Posts: 202
Reviews: 1
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I have some Tufa rock that I planned to use. It has not been in a tank at all, but does anyone know if it has phosphates in it from the wild? I don't want an issue with phosphates right off the bat.
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09-15-2008, 04:06 PM
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#13
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Non-Hypocritical
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Hillbillyville Alabama
Posts: 8,064
Reviews: 11
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Buy base rock, then cook it. You will end up with the same rock that you pay 8-10 a pound for at the LFS if you cook that LR. And unless you know the chain of events leading to you getting it, you should cook any rock before putting it in the tank to give yourself - and the rock - the best chance.
I think, although not positive, that the phosphate issues with DIY rocks stem from the aggregate used. Whether oyster shells, araganite sand, or even silica sand. If the aggregate has a P level in it, then it gets trapped in the DIY rock and slowly leaches out over time and because of the way cooking works, it won't cook it out. Its just one of those things that only time can take care of.
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09-15-2008, 04:08 PM
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#14
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.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: NW
Posts: 11,333
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OneDummHikk
Buy base rock, then cook it..
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you cant cook base rock
It needs seeded with a healthy population of bacteria before any "cooking" can take place
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I like to glue animals to rocks and put disturbing amounts of electricity and saltwater next to each other
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09-15-2008, 04:28 PM
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#15
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Non-Hypocritical
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Hillbillyville Alabama
Posts: 8,064
Reviews: 11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fly Guy
you cant cook base rock
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Is that a bad joke? Of course you can cook base rock. Even if you have to seed it (which I don't agree with), then it still cooks.
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