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View Full Version : Check out this rock, bad idea?

Mikeeal
11/08/2009, 05:27 PM
I got this stuff from a landscaping friend, I'd love to use it in an upcoming fish only tank. It's really light and super porous from what I can tell. I really wouldn't expect it to have the biological or buffering capabilites as more commonly used rock, but I like the look of it and it's sitting on my porch. Am I askin for trouble with this stuff? Any chances of it leaching something nasty into the tank?

Pics:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/Mikeeal/125g/jonsrock1.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/Mikeeal/125g/jonsrock2.jpg
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b381/Mikeeal/125g/jonsrock3.jpg

Thanks guys.
albano
11/08/2009, 05:34 PM
QUOTE: Check out this rock, bad idea?
BAD IDEA not worth the risk
tgfrench
11/08/2009, 05:43 PM
I agree you never know what has been sprayed on the rock since it was in the yard
Mikeeal
11/08/2009, 05:48 PM
Ooh, good point about being sprayed. How bout I test it out with some demon's, I mean damsels? Or even freshwater and some feeder goldfish? The freshwater would be a good way to really rinse it out too.
tgfrench
11/08/2009, 05:48 PM
your money you do as you want
Raggamuffin
11/08/2009, 05:49 PM
lava rock in general is a bad idea, who knows what will leach out of the rock mineral wise not to mention like above what has been sprayed on it.
tgfrench
11/08/2009, 05:49 PM
it is nice looking rock
Mikeeal
11/08/2009, 05:50 PM
For some reason I just forsee some real bad algae bloom's/outbreaks, although I really don't have any basis for my opinion.
Wolverine
11/08/2009, 06:54 PM
Ooh, good point about being sprayed. How bout I test it out with some demon's, I mean damsels? Or even freshwater and some feeder goldfish? The freshwater would be a good way to really rinse it out too.

The problem with testing it out is that you can have pockets of minerals/pesticides/etc trapped deep within the rock. There's always a chance of those getting into the water months, or even years, down the road, so testing it for a while isn't going to guarantee safety.
Mikeeal
11/08/2009, 07:56 PM
To sum it up, albano said it best it seems:



QUOTE: Check out this rock, bad idea?
BAD IDEA not worth the risk



I guess it's staying on the porch!!! Thanks guys.
Ev's Reef
11/08/2009, 10:16 PM
you are not going to want to risk it.
MrTuskfish
11/09/2009, 11:16 AM
Lava rock can contain anything (copper, irn, etc). The only rock I'd use is limestone from a known source; it becomes LR in time. Limestone is being cultured into LR by several companies.
TheHotOne
11/09/2009, 04:36 PM
I would say thats a bad idea.
johno4
11/10/2009, 07:01 AM
I have in the past and currently am using lava rock in my tank. I like the way it looks. I wouldnt worry so much about what its made of, but I would worry about what it might have been exposed to while in the yard. Lava rock is cheap, if you like the look of it go to a landscape store or nursery and by some that has not been laying in the yard. Run carbon in the tank and you'll be all set.
jjk_reef00
11/10/2009, 10:31 PM
Maybe in a FOWLR, never in a reef...
Also depends on the fish you want to keep in the tank.
If you plan on hardier fish then they will be much more tolerant of the rock.
johno4
11/11/2009, 07:21 AM
Maybe in a FOWLR, never in a reef...
Also depends on the fish you want to keep in the tank.
If you plan on hardier fish then they will be much more tolerant of the rock.

Agree, I should have mentioned that. Def. only in a fowlr.