LAVA ROCK??? what can i use?

[blitz99]

what sort of base rock can i use to build up live rock? will lava rock work or is it not a good choice?
i'm looking for a rock type i can get at a landscaping place or similar so i can bust it up on my own and maybe even do some drilling (lava rock is super soft so i wouldnt have any problems)...
is lava rock no good?

 

[chilidog]

No dont use lava rock.If ur just trying to sve some money use PVC pipes to make a small frame and build off of that with ur live rock.Just hide the frame so no one can see it.

 

[belothsurf]

Lava rock, that you buy in stores, is actually man made, and is not really "Lava" rock. I read an article on this, when I first started, and it was from a reliable source. Man made lava rock is not harmfull, and because it is porous, it would make good live rock, once it gets....colonized...by bacteria. Real lava rock, from a volcano, would be bad, because it has too many heavy metals in it.
The biggest problem with lava rock, is it is not real, and doesn't look real, so most purists wouldn't have it in their tank. I have one piece, and I use it to hold down a ph in my fuge.
Most would suggest buying cheaper base rock, or the cheapest lr you can find, to make the base of your reef.
I wouldn't even think about getting any kind of landscape rock for your tank. It's been many years since my college geology class, but that could be bad. Different rocks are made of different minerals, and put into a saltwater environment, would leach all kinds of stuff not meant for a SW tank. Go with live rock. Live rock is very easy to break up, so you can be as creative as you want to be. HTH. :happyfish

 

[dragonboy]

Yeah I notice the lava rock at the store seems kind of fake some of them feels like plastic.

 

[lionfish12]

Im adding 10 lbs of lava rock to my 125. With 200 lbs of base rock and like 20 lbs of live rock. Also a about 15 lbs of a black base rock. I dont think mixing base rocks will hurt your tank. Just clean it really good.

 

[dragonboy]

Any rock can be use as live rock even brick can be use as live rock. It just takes time for any rock to be come live rock.

 

[scott420]

The local pet store here sells this turfa rock or calcuim rock ( ?? )
they said it was the same stuff they use to grind up to make the gravel bags of crushed coral.
it was 1.29 a lbs
just rinse it off and works great.

 

[marvida]

I agree with Magic Carp, real volcanic rock will leach all kinds of stuff into the water. You can get good base rock online for about a buck per pound delivered, depending on your location.

 

[blitz99]

i went the safe route.... i went with the tuffa... it was cheap for a base... the live rock is the killer at 6-9 bucks per pound. but i built up enough for this week.. i'm going to add more next weekend... AFTER payday...
i am now the proud owner of two damsels... rock on!!! you all aint got nothing on me and my damsels

 

[reefgirl]

Im adding 10 lbs of lava rock to my 125. With 200 lbs of base rock and like 20 lbs of live rock. Also a about 15 lbs of a black base rock. I dont think mixing base rocks will hurt your tank. Just clean it really good.
Lionfish...while you never listen to advice I thought I might try this once. Lava rock is nothing you want in your tank as it WILL leech metals & other substances to your tank. If you *have* 200lbs of base rock, the lava rock isn't necessary - nor is the 15lbs of "black base rock".
I realize you're young, but I've read way too many of your posts on this board to believe anything you say.
RG.

 

[dragonboy]

I think its better to buy all your rocks from the beginning so it won't end up fouling the tank as much or leeching any chemicals.