what do you do with your baserock?

[ekclark]

I just bought a lot of baserock for a new tank and I was wondering how you guys suggest getting it tank ready...

 

[thomas712]

Personally I never rinsed mine, but it was calcium carbonate based. Best base rock I've ever seen.
Thomas
Didn't rinse my aragonite sand either.

 

[ekclark]

This baserock is former live rock and tufa rock. I have heard people talk about tufa as a great base...was this wrong and why? I am using this rock in the hope of it becoming live in my larger tank when I add 115# of actual lr.

 

[thomas712]

Tufa has been used quite often and with good results
Tufa - which is cream, tan or brown. Coralline algea has been reported to grow very well on this rock, however it can contain heavy minerals which can be bad. If you use this rock you should soak it in saltwater for a few weeks and test the water. If yours has been used before then I would still wonder about it. Its the chance you take, but like I said for the most part it has been used with good results.
Thomas

 

[harlequin]

Out of curiousity, why would you cure base rock since it already has nothing growing on it to die off in the first place?
- I just add mine after rinsing it real good. Got about half and half in my 65.

 

[ekclark]

Thanks Thomas and Kip...I think this is a subject worth talking more about here...in case of disater--do those heavy metal sponges work worth anything?

 

[thomas712]

Polyfilters do wonders for removing metals, medicines and DOC's.
Thomas

 

[the claw]

On your poll, you should add :never use it!

 

[matti070]

not sure if i kiss it or not, but i just put it in. my bro had a maybe 7 or 8 in long brittle worm, so he rinsed it for about 2 min.

 

[ekclark]

would a heavy metal sponge mess up my water chemistry? I have read that some of them will soft your water...will this throw off my ph or cause any other problems? Can you suggest a brand?

 

[ekclark]

Afterward---- I just wanted to let people know they make a difference I returned all the baserock I had, found the guy many people use on ----, and soon will have 60#s for less than i paid for tufa. I will cure it with a good coat of bacteria and then away I'll go. Thanks for all the help. No worries about heavy metals, though I will buy some polyfilters because upon researching them, they seem like miracle workers.

 

[nicky1.8t]

boil it than cure it mabe

 

[thomas712]

The only thing you have to worry about with polyfilter is adding any trace elements. You will want to remove your polyfilter before you add any and then leave it out for a few days.
Your going to love that Island base rock !
Thomas