Any experience with Pukani?

BenMichael · 11/28/2012, 11:10 AM

Does anyone have any experience with BRS's Pukani dry rock? They say it is lighter than other dry rock so I'm a little unsure as to how much I should order. It looks like it aquascapes really well, so that part is a no brainer for me, but I don't want to order 200lbs. if I only need 100...

joeogio · 11/28/2012, 11:29 AM

what size is your tank? also do you want a minimalistic look or a lot of rock work

Posted from ReefCentral.com App for Android

garydan · 11/28/2012, 11:52 AM

I recently ordered 30 lbs, received 3 large pieces, about 12x10, and a couple small pieces. It mostly filled the 30 gallon tank I'm using to cook it in.

It was loaded with phosphates... After 24 hours it hit the maximum reading the Hanna phosphate meter could do. There's threads on here about how to remove the phosphates, definitely follow the recommendations. Nice rock otherwise ,so far.

Reef264 · 11/28/2012, 12:10 PM

I used it for all of my tanks rocks.Great stuff, absolutely awesome looking.

-Ray

bhazard451 · 11/28/2012, 12:17 PM

It is very light, but also very much filled with phosphate. I didn't clean the rocks at all and let it cycle/cure with my new tank, and it took almost 2-3 months for the GHA to disappear... with carbon and a gfo reactor.

70-80 lbs could fill a 120 gallon tank easily.

I tried both the reef saver rock, and the Pukani. I like them both. Preference goes to the reef saver, as it is clean.

Check out Reef Rocks in the forum here as well. Their rock is very similar to the Reef Saver, and much cheaper. They even throw in free pre-washed sand, which is the best I've used.

GPB · 11/28/2012, 01:44 PM

Like others have said. It's great rock. Test for phosphate and treat treat if needed before tank set up. I have 15lbs. in my 37G and it made nice pillar out of it.

Brien H · 11/28/2012, 01:59 PM

I went with 130lbs of Pukani for my 180g and ended up only using around 100 in my display and put the rest in my sump, and I still had around 10lbs for my frag tank. I did cure it in a separate tank for a couple months and treated with LC for phosphates. I couldn't be happier with the rock and you do get a lot of surface area per pound. Just be sure to wash it and treat for phosphates if possible.

BenMichael · 11/28/2012, 03:33 PM

I've got a 100minute gallon corner hex and I would like to leave quite a bit of open room for swimming. So 75lbs should probably do it and leave a little left over for my sump. I don't have the tank set up yet but I will at the reef saver too...just really liked the porous look of the pukani but don't want phosphate problems again...

OregonReefer2 · 11/28/2012, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenMichael

I've got a 100minute gallon corner hex and I would like to leave quite a bit of open room for swimming. So 75lbs should probably do it and leave a little left over for my sump. I don't have the tank set up yet but I will at the reef saver too...just really liked the porous look of the pukani but don't want phosphate problems again...

Awesome rock, but as others mentioned many people have had to deal with the PO4 issues.

75lbs will be plenty for a 100

BenMichael · 11/28/2012, 04:13 PM

bhazard451-Reef Rocks doesn't have the same phosphate problem? I checked it out and their rock looks really good too and if I had to get 150lbs of their rock it would cost about the same as the pukani...plus free sand!! A lot to think about.

Thanks for all the replies.

jerpa · 11/28/2012, 04:46 PM

IMO pukani should at a minimum be rinsed. It contains an unbelievable amount of dead organic matter. If it continues to leach after the initial cleaning you can treat it with lanthanum chloride. It is very light. I used 30lbs of it and 40lbs of BRS Reef Saver. The Pukani was twice the volume. I would order about 2/3 as much as you planned and you will likely still have extra unless you build a wall.

The pukani is the mountain on the right. I still have a volleyball sized piece left over. I would say that's about 20lbs in a 4x2x2.

rovster · 11/28/2012, 06:05 PM

I ordered 75 lbs for my 100 gal build, and althought I have not aquascaped yet, it looks like I'll end up using half of it. I did the whole acid bath and have been treating with LC and started testing phosphates a couple of months ago and they are down to 0.05ish. Awesome rock and super light.

This is 75lbs Pukani, 25 lbs shelf, and 10lbs tonga to give you an idea of scale...

It all fit in this brute. I built a spray bar tree in there run by a mag 7 to circulate the water. It's been curing for 5 months, only because my build has been delayed.

Hope this helps...

rovster · 11/28/2012, 06:06 PM

Sorry

rovster · 11/28/2012, 06:09 PM

double post

BenMichael · 11/28/2012, 10:02 PM

All this has helped tremendously. I am reading the Pukani thread on here and I think it is something I can handle. After looking at other rock, I still can't get over how it looks and I think it will be the easiest to "carve" on. And I can't get over the weight. Whatever I can do to make my tank a little lighter is a good thing. I see 75 pounds of Pukani in my future...just need to make sure I get it soon enough to cure it...

Thank you everyone for the help. You all make me very glad I joined RC. If I had done it the first time around, I probably wouldn't have given up on my first saltwater tank after 11 months.

11/28/2012, 11:10 AM	#1
BenMichael Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Casper, WY Posts: 6	Any experience with Pukani? Does anyone have any experience with BRS's Pukani dry rock? They say it is lighter than other dry rock so I'm a little unsure as to how much I should order. It looks like it aquascapes really well, so that part is a no brainer for me, but I don't want to order 200lbs. if I only need 100...

11/28/2012, 12:10 PM	#4
Reef264 Where's The Reef? Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Southaven, Ms Posts: 2,098	I used it for all of my tanks rocks.Great stuff, absolutely awesome looking. -Ray __________________ I'd rather Die on my feet, than Live on my Knees. Current Tank Info: 150g SPS Reef, 2x250w 14k Pheonix Metal Halides w/T-5 Actinics, 2 Tunze 6095's, Tunze 7096 controller, Ozone, Precision Marine Skimmer, Reef Octopus Bio-Churn Bio Pellet Reactor, GFO & Carbon Reactor, Ozone Reactor, ATO, Reef Keeper.

11/28/2012, 01:44 PM	#6
GPB Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Washington DC Posts: 633	Like others have said. It's great rock. Test for phosphate and treat treat if needed before tank set up. I have 15lbs. in my 37G and it made nice pillar out of it. __________________ It is what it is! Current Tank Info: Oceanic 37g cube, AquaC Remora Skimmer, 6 x T5 ligts, SSB, 10g sump, GFO, GAC, Polyfilter

11/28/2012, 04:46 PM	#11
jerpa Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 2,174	IMO pukani should at a minimum be rinsed. It contains an unbelievable amount of dead organic matter. If it continues to leach after the initial cleaning you can treat it with lanthanum chloride. It is very light. I used 30lbs of it and 40lbs of BRS Reef Saver. The Pukani was twice the volume. I would order about 2/3 as much as you planned and you will likely still have extra unless you build a wall. The pukani is the mountain on the right. I still have a volleyball sized piece left over. I would say that's about 20lbs in a 4x2x2. __________________ Jer Current Tank Info: 40b basement sump, 40b refugium, 30g frag

11/28/2012, 11:29 AM	#2
joeogio Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: bluff city TN Posts: 198	what size is your tank? also do you want a minimalistic look or a lot of rock work Posted from ReefCentral.com App for Android

11/28/2012, 11:52 AM	#3
garydan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 180	I recently ordered 30 lbs, received 3 large pieces, about 12x10, and a couple small pieces. It mostly filled the 30 gallon tank I'm using to cook it in. It was loaded with phosphates... After 24 hours it hit the maximum reading the Hanna phosphate meter could do. There's threads on here about how to remove the phosphates, definitely follow the recommendations. Nice rock otherwise ,so far.

11/28/2012, 12:17 PM	#5
bhazard451 Registered Member. Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1,900	It is very light, but also very much filled with phosphate. I didn't clean the rocks at all and let it cycle/cure with my new tank, and it took almost 2-3 months for the GHA to disappear... with carbon and a gfo reactor. 70-80 lbs could fill a 120 gallon tank easily. I tried both the reef saver rock, and the Pukani. I like them both. Preference goes to the reef saver, as it is clean. Check out Reef Rocks in the forum here as well. Their rock is very similar to the Reef Saver, and much cheaper. They even throw in free pre-washed sand, which is the best I've used.

11/28/2012, 01:59 PM	#7
Brien H Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 12	I went with 130lbs of Pukani for my 180g and ended up only using around 100 in my display and put the rest in my sump, and I still had around 10lbs for my frag tank. I did cure it in a separate tank for a couple months and treated with LC for phosphates. I couldn't be happier with the rock and you do get a lot of surface area per pound. Just be sure to wash it and treat for phosphates if possible.

11/28/2012, 03:33 PM	#8
BenMichael Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Casper, WY Posts: 6	I've got a 100minute gallon corner hex and I would like to leave quite a bit of open room for swimming. So 75lbs should probably do it and leave a little left over for my sump. I don't have the tank set up yet but I will at the reef saver too...just really liked the porous look of the pukani but don't want phosphate problems again...

11/28/2012, 04:13 PM	#10
BenMichael Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Casper, WY Posts: 6	bhazard451-Reef Rocks doesn't have the same phosphate problem? I checked it out and their rock looks really good too and if I had to get 150lbs of their rock it would cost about the same as the pukani...plus free sand!! A lot to think about. Thanks for all the replies.

11/28/2012, 06:05 PM	#12
rovster Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miramar, FL Posts: 7,518	I ordered 75 lbs for my 100 gal build, and althought I have not aquascaped yet, it looks like I'll end up using half of it. I did the whole acid bath and have been treating with LC and started testing phosphates a couple of months ago and they are down to 0.05ish. Awesome rock and super light. This is 75lbs Pukani, 25 lbs shelf, and 10lbs tonga to give you an idea of scale... It all fit in this brute. I built a spray bar tree in there run by a mag 7 to circulate the water. It's been curing for 5 months, only because my build has been delayed. Hope this helps...

11/28/2012, 06:06 PM	#13
rovster Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miramar, FL Posts: 7,518	Sorry

11/28/2012, 06:09 PM	#14
rovster Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miramar, FL Posts: 7,518	double post

11/28/2012, 10:02 PM	#15
BenMichael Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Casper, WY Posts: 6	All this has helped tremendously. I am reading the Pukani thread on here and I think it is something I can handle. After looking at other rock, I still can't get over how it looks and I think it will be the easiest to "carve" on. And I can't get over the weight. Whatever I can do to make my tank a little lighter is a good thing. I see 75 pounds of Pukani in my future...just need to make sure I get it soon enough to cure it... Thank you everyone for the help. You all make me very glad I joined RC. If I had done it the first time around, I probably wouldn't have given up on my first saltwater tank after 11 months.