Base Rock Question

Vinnie71975 · #1 12/19/2007, 01:15 PM

Ok all im getting a 55g after Xmas and im running on a tight budget. I have considered argocrete but cant seem to get natural looking shapes. My next thought is Lava Rock and this is where the question comes in. Lava rock has a TON of pores and is Light weight which Leads to a TON of surface area. Which makes it Seem Ideal for Base Rock.Does anyone know if its safe to use? Also Lava rock is between 18 and 50 cents a lb or so and a Pound of lava rock is a HUGE chunk due to how light weight it is.

Shooter7 · #2 12/19/2007, 01:36 PM

The problem with lava rock is that you really don't know what it's made up of chemically.

I got my base rock from a place called reeferrocks and it was awesome. However, I don't know if they're in operation anymore or not. I have heard some folks talking about this place, but I don't have any personal experience with them:

http://www.marcorocks.com/

MMM33732 · #3 12/19/2007, 01:40 PM

Should be perfectly fine. Ive seen it used in many freshwater tanks as well as one or two saltwater tanks. Only thing I could see being a issue is there may be chemicals in the rocks composite that may lead to increased algae growth possibly. But thats pretty much a possibility with anything you put in a tank.

John Zillmer · #4 12/19/2007, 01:41 PM

The biggest obvious problem with non-calcerous rock is that it has no buffering capacity. Also, terrestrial rock of any sort will grow hair algae like crazy.

Vinnie71975 · #5 12/19/2007, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by John Zillmer
The biggest obvious problem with non-calcerous rock is that it has no buffering capacity. Also, terrestrial rock of any sort will grow hair algae like crazy.

dont mind Hair algae in fact i like how it looks! Also would the Argonite sand make up for lack of buffering by the rock?

John Zillmer · #6 12/19/2007, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vinnie71975
dont mind Hair algae in fact i like how it looks!

You are lucky, then. HA is pretty good for a lot of purposes -- tang food, 'pod shelter...

Vinnie71975 · #7 12/19/2007, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by John Zillmer
You are lucky, then. HA is pretty good for a lot of purposes -- tang food, 'pod shelter...

not to mention Bio filtration!

John Zillmer · #8 12/19/2007, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vinnie71975
not to mention Bio filtration!

Yeah, and nutrient export if you yank it out from time to time.

Vinnie71975 · #9 12/19/2007, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by John Zillmer
Yeah, and nutrient export if you yank it out from time to time.

If the fish dont eat it first lol!

MMM33732 · #10 12/19/2007, 10:46 PM

Tang eating hair algae? What tang is that? I need one! Ive heard of fox faces eating it before, but those are rabbitfish, not tangs.

harryk · #11 12/20/2007, 12:21 AM

marcorocks.com sells nice dry base rock. very reasonable too. check them out. also check the selling forum here. people are alway selling stuff

Harry

John Zillmer · #12 12/20/2007, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by MMM33732
Tang eating hair algae? What tang is that? I need one! Ive heard of fox faces eating it before, but those are rabbitfish, not tangs.

Well, all types tangs eat some amount of HA...my experience has been that once they figure out how yummy flake food is, they give up algae-eating. But Naso lituratus ('Naso' tang) can be a pretty reliable one, IME, and sailfins (Z. veliferum/desjardinii) are pretty good too. My yellow tang gave up eating anything except whatever I'm trying to feed my target mandarins...