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View Full Version : Use of Lava Rock as filter medium


et.tu.Brute
02/11/2011, 02:44 PM
I was recently at an aquarium store and noticed a couple of staff members bringing in small buckets of red lava rock, which I later found out had been rinsed outside, and depositing them into a huge sump system. The sump had a seperate bio-ball compartment, and was used to filter a 30-40 foot row of tanks.

My question is whether this would work for a reef system, rather than the holding-tank system at the store (its water is constantly renewed as they replace the water that goes out in the bags of fish). My main concern is that lava rock contains large amounts of silica, which in turn might promote diatom issues.

Anyone that has ever used Lava Rock out there? thanks

Allmost
02/11/2011, 02:45 PM
Welcome to RC :)

and as you said, Id worry about SI, po4 and many other heavy metals it will leach .. .

chimmike
02/11/2011, 02:54 PM
not only that but i'd be concerned with the porosity grabbing and trapping major amounts of detritus that even good rinsing might not get out.