Lace rock?

[witecap4u]

Is it safe for SW/reef tank or will it mess with the PH or some thing else.

cs

[MikeP]

It's more silica based than most of our regular base rock. No idea if the silicates can leach into the water easier - I could be wrong but I seem to remeber some of it having a fair amount of Fe in it too.

[prof]

Lace rock? Is this the same as 'holey rock' or honeycomb limestone?

My parents house is built across a vein of the stuff and I have picked out some pieces to use as base rock. It is great in chiclid tanks. I don't think the silica is a concern but they very often will have a fair amout of iron in them. They will have a red tint because of this. I have rinsed mine with a hose and then bleached it. I will cure it for a long time and then start it in a salt water bath with some starter rock to see if I can get some calcarious algae to grow.

I will try to post some pics of what I have.

Dave

[ratboy]

I have a giant arch of holey limestone that Ive had in my tanks for over 8 years. Ive had no problems with it and it is now completely covered with coraline algae, mushrooms, zoos and gorgonia. My brother owns an aquarium maintenence and installation company and he uses HUGE piece of holey rock for his 1000+ gallon setups. Scrub it down, soak it for a few days in old saltwater and drop it in your tank.

[GaryP]

I've useed it as base rock in the past. I think the only disadvantage to it vs. corraline based LR is that it does not have enough porosity for all the micro critters to grow and develop.

[witecap4u]

Lace rock is different than holey rock or limestone. Lace rock is alot more porous than the limestone and is greyish color. From what i've seen, it usually comes in flatter pieces, instead of big chunks.

Gary, were you talking about lace rock or limestone?

cs

[prof]

Pictures of my limestone. That is a 35 gallon washtub...

[prof]

Josh...
I don't think I have ever seen anyone use the lace rock in your link. Looks like lava rock. I don't know if it would be good or bad for a tank.

I have seen lots of people use limestone. It does raise the ph and is not as porous as 'live rock'. I have a few pieces in my tanks that do just fine.

Dave

[GaryP]

CS,

I thought you were referring to Holey Rock (limestone). I did a little research and found out what you are talking about is the lava rock. The only thing negative I have ever heard about it is that the "natural" lava rock can release heavy metals into the water. There is a man-made alternative that is not supposed to do so. To be honest I don't recall where I heard this, but it does make sense to me. A lot of metal deposits are formed from volcanic activity that raises them from deep in the earth. Lace rock is supposed to be 60-65% silica. but I do not know whethere is is stable or not. I have one piece of the man made lace rock in one of my tanks that has a chili cactus coral mounted upside down in a hole in the middle. I've never had any problems with it and the chili cactus seems to love his little cave. He certainly keeps growing. I've never had a diatom outbreak that would indicate excess silicates in my water.

Gary

[witecap4u]

I had it in my cichlid tank for a while with no problems, but I think I'll not risk it and leave it out...cs