Rocks

[rjattack19]

i found some really cool rocks the other day and wanted to know it i could put them in my tank if i wash them off some how...i figured they would eventually grow algee and other stuff that would be be good for my tank. so if i can do this how do i go about cleaning/sanatizing these rocks?

 

[nereef]

i'm assuming that you are talking of plain ol' rock that you've found on the ground. i personally wouldn't trust their contents. toxic metals will be a possibility. besides, lace rock is fairly inexpensive.

 

[nofish4u!!]

Agreed.

 

[rjattack19]

Originally Posted by NEreef
i'm assuming that you are talking of plain ol' rock that you've found on the ground. i personally wouldn't trust their contents. toxic metals will be a possibility. besides, lace rock is fairly inexpensive.
sorry for my stupidity but wut is lace rock?

 

[nereef]

you're not stupid, just uninformed. and it's a fair question.
lace rock is rock for tanks that isn't liverock. it could be what we call dead rock. most local fish stores will sell lace rock.

 

[rjattack19]

oh i know what u r talking about will that be ok if i want an anemone in there in the future

 

[nereef]

a lot of people use lacerock in their reefs. it would be fine to use a mixture of liverock and base rock in your tank. over time the lace rock will, as you said, grow stuff that is good for your tank.
as for the anemone(s). these animals need perfect water quality, a mature tank, and high output lights.

 

[rjattack19]

by mature how long are we talking? because i would really like to give my clowns a home...is there a substitute that i could use to make my clowns happy?

 

[nereef]

could you explain your current system to me? how long has the tank been up? how big is the tank? what kind of lights? how much rock? chemical levels?
there are alternatives to anemones that clowns will host, including easier to keep soft corals or even feather dusters.

 

[rjattack19]

do u have aim so i could talk to u easier?

 

[nereef]

nope. besides, i'm no anemone expert. there are many others here that can help you with that. myself and others can help you if you post tank information. also, others on the board could then learn from your questions and experiences. that's what the board is for.

 

[rjattack19]

ah good point...lol...ok i have a 15/20 gallon (not really sure which one because the person i got it from wasnt sure) 2 perc. clowns, crushed shells for ground cover (would like LS) and like 15 lbs. of fake rock...not much...i really want to upgrade tho...the only thing in the tank that i purchased are the perc. clowns. the rest came with it.

 

[nereef]

so was this tank setup before you got it? do you know what lights you have? do you know levels for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, alk?
to find out how many gallons of water the tank holds multiply length x height x width in inches x the constant 0.00434

 

[shark bait]

Originally Posted by nofish4U!!
Agreed.

if it ant from the ocean, it ant gona get the motion. The only rock that you might ever thing of puting in your tank is plain old lava rock, but it is for the most part worthless. A good piece of tonga, marshal, or even base rock will help boost your bio and keep your levels in check if done right with good rock. Do some research on the BERLIN method and you will learn all about how vital good rock and a live sand bed are to any tank. my 2 cents.

 

[ophiura]

I personally would only use one type of base rock and it must be limestone based. A lot of limestone (e.g. texas holey rock) WAS coral reef quite a long time ago. It may not be as porous as LR but it can easily be used. In time, any surface - glass, gravel, any rock- will become "live" in that it will grow beneficial bacteria and microfauna. LR has additional benefits in that these things and more are already established, but dry rock will develop it.
However, I would be REAL hesitant to put any rock in that is not pure limestone. I am not a personal fan of lava rock...granites, slate, sandstone, etc all may have mineral impurities that may leach out into the tank. Things like granites, of course, have very very little porosity at all.

 

[rjattack19]

thatnk for all your help! im not at home now so i dont know about the lights and stuff but when i do ill post it