Collected Rocks.

[misfitkris]

I've noticed while going to the beach with my little one, many small rocks (nothing over around 6" that wash up on shore around here. Many of them are very porous and are made of coral skeletons. (Some are lighter with more skeletons others are darker and more porous.)

My question is this, does anyone see any problem with using these in my tank whether it is for Refugium Rubble, some base rocks or possibly some smaller "island reefs" in my display?

I don't even have all the equipment for the tank yet so these would sit in the sun and dry for weeks. And just to be sure if the were safe I would cure them with my LR when it was finally ordered.

Thoughts?

[dileggi]

I had asked someone at my LFS about something like this. What I was told was that if it was cured and seeded it would be OK. He basically told me that if it wasn't seeded it might as well just be a decoration! This was for adding it to the tank itself. LOL!

I'm not sure if his info was correct or not. I wouldn't see that being true if being used for rubble. Hopefully someone else with some experience can give some insight.

[uscharalph]

You could boil them to make sure they're safe.

[misfitkris]

I don't think boiling is necessary but I guess it couldn't hurt. My thought was if I was to buy live rock and let it cure for weeks and put this with it it would basically become live.

[weaselslucks]

i think as long as you find they on the beach and not collect them from the water its perfectly legal. And if it is coral skeletons then just wash it off and cure it like you would liverock to make sure there is no dead stuff inside the rock. Its dead now but will not take long for it to become live.

[baldomero]

i agree with weasel ive collected rocks just make sure you cure them

[rafa316]

I second that