want to cure lava rock

gravismaximus

gravismaximus

Member
went into my lfs today and asked this question. what order of fish would you recomend me get next out of a flame angel, foxface, and a pearl scale butterfly? (he knows whats in my tank/history) he told me he recomened me not buy any of these anytime soon because of my rock (lava) not being cured enough.
i started my tank out back in November, and i didnt care for the look of live rock they were selling, but i did like the looks of lava rock. so after a long search i found big chunks of lava rock, and bought some. i boiled and cleaned the rock and put it in the new tank with my molly to help cycle the tank. towards the end of December i got my first couple of fish (clowns and a goby, cleaner shrimp) and my water levels are pretty good (nitrate always around 10 ppm i seem to over feed, everything else at 0ppm)
back to the LFS talking about my rock- he said its not live or rather that what those 3 fish need to eat is not on/in my rocks. i would like to say i trust this man at my lfs, he alwasys seems to be trying to look out for me and the fish and not just my wallet. however this just dont make sense to me and thats where all of you come in. this rock has been in the DT with fish for 3 months, how is it not live?
normal live rock is dead coral sekeltons with algea/bacteria/etc.. growing on it right. so what the difference between lava rock with bacteria/ brown algae/etc and normal live rock.?
also what do you think about the 3 fish- would they surive off from my feedings (pellets, mysis,flake)or do they need the normal live rock for food to live?
can lava rock turn into/like real live rock over a long time (besides not being dead coral)?
thanks for your time
 
sepulatian

sepulatian

Moderator
The difference between lava rock and live rock is that there is nothing alive on your rock. Live rock comes from the ocean and has so much more living within it than bacteria and algae. There are so many micro organisms, hitchikers, other aquatic life, on live rock. At this moment the lava rock is base rock. It is porous and pretty, but has no life on it. If you add a few pieces of actual live rock then the life on it will spread out to the other rocks in the tank.
What sized tank do you have? Hold off on the pearscale. They need an established tank without fluxuations. A foxface needs a good sized tank, and the flame is a pretty hardy fish.
 
socalnano24

socalnano24

Active Member
I'm going to need to check on of my books. I think I remember reading somewhere that most types of straight lava rock can make bad base rock due to some sort of leaching issue. I'll get back to ya
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Originally Posted by SocalNano24
http:///forum/post/3248016
I'm going to need to check on of my books. I think I remember reading somewhere that most types of straight lava rock can make bad base rock due to some sort of leaching issue. I'll get back to ya
+1 I've also read/been told the same thing. I'm fairly certain that lava rock leaks chemicals into your tank even when cured. It has something to do with it's mineral composition.
 
srfisher17

srfisher17

Active Member
LR is basically dead coral skeletons (limestone). Lava rock is just what its name implies; rock that was once molten rock under the earth's crust. Lava rock can contain iron, copper, and other metals (and who knows what else.)---very bad for SW fish. BTW, Flame Angels are hardy fish, but (IME), lots of mature LR for grazing in one thing they really need to thrive. I'm sure many have been kept without it; but I wouldn't do it.
 
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