BaseRock?

[elm0]

I'm looking for an inexpensive way to stock my tank with rock. I would love to start off with all live rock, full of beautiful color, but that would just be way too expensive for my 46G bowfront. I'm wondering what kind of rock would be the best to use as baserock and eventually grow my own live rock. Thought I might be able to find something cheap at a landscape supply or home depot or something. I also want to go with a good rock that will provide good filtration for the tank.
Thanks for any ideas.

Kenneth

[Tim Marvin]

hirocks

[Tim Marvin]

www.hirocks.com

[SuperXdude]

I bought 100lbs of HiRock rock....cost $88 with shipping.

A year later, it looks good!



X

[Ram_Puppy]

that is not a shabby price... if you want to look at something more local, try Austin Aquariums, they sell something called reef bones. which 'used' to be live rock, also, I believe CB pets has something similar if your down near SA.

[GaryP]

I wonder if reef bones is Tufa Rock? Tufa is terrestially mined coral from Pacific atolls. Its advantage is that it has the porosity of LR, its disadvantage is that is not "live." Fintique used to carry Tufa.

A friend got several larger Tufa boulders at a plastic supply place here in SA. He cut them up in smaller pieces then added some reef grunge and basically cultured his own LR.

Gary

[fishhawk]

I have this large lava boulder that came with the house...we never spray chemicalon our lawn and was wondering...since it has been in the yard for 35yrs...if I soaked it in water for a few days, chiseled it up into an interesting shape...could i use it as base rock?

[Richard]

"Reef Bones" is from Carib Sea. It is dead live rock (if that makes sense?). It usually still has some dead coralline and stuff on it but looks like it has been cleaned pretty well, definitely not tufa. All in all I think it is pretty nice stuff. Here's Carib Sea description of it...

“Almost Live” Rock. New Reef BonesTM are the real thing: wild collected natural coral base rock in spectacular shapes. Plenty of holes and branches, highly porous and lightweight. Reef BonesTM only cost about 1/2 the price of live rock, and are sold dry.

The stuff from HIRocks is very nice. I've never used it but everyone I know who has was very happy with it.

I read years ago that lava rock can lower your PH so I never recommend using it. I've never tried it so I'm not sure how true that is though.

[GaryP]

There are two kinds of lava rock (pumice). Naturally collected pumice has a lot of heavy metals and is not recommended for aquarium use. The other type is the ornamental man made variety and is safe for aquarium use. Its generally sold at landscape and aquarium stores. Unless you know where it came from, I wouldn't recommend it.

Gary

[GaryP]

Richard,

Thanks for the good info. We always appreciate your input.

Gary

[fishhawk]

yes thnx for the info...I guess I'll leave it be and get some real stuff. So far, in my 110 gal I first putin 29lbsof cured figi, then 25lbs more. I hope to add 65lbs more from Joshua thurs. bringing me up to 119lbs. Eventually I want about 175lbs total. I might order some thru TBS to top it off. The first 54lbs I got at...can we mention the names of LFS here? Fint***. It came with some pods, hair algae, and something that looks like an anemones. I hope its not aptasia... they are almost clear (slightly milky), kinda bowl shaped, shoot back into their little tubes/holes ifyou tapon the glass or a pod come close to touching them, the largest is about as large as a dime...any suggestions? I've had the pumps,water, and a 50/50 No light running 1/2 the day. I used a rubber band to hold a tiny cocktail shrimp in place to feed the pods and the pods dont seem too shy as some come out to feed at any time. I have yet to fire up the euroreef skimmer yet....didn'y thin I needed to while waiting for the tank to start cycling...and I'm not in too much of a hurry. I just ordered "the conscientious marine aquarist, aquarium corals by Borneman, and marine fishes by scott W Michael" Any other suggestions? I am building a custom canopy, two 400 watt M/H mogal retrofits with two german made 6.77" fans for ventilation/cooling. Bare in mind that I am a newby but have been reading and researching for a while. Oh and a Mag 9.5 for return and two Maxi 1200 PH, a digital titanium 350watt heater, 300watt heater for sump, and soon to add a 38gal high refugium next to main tank...already plumbed a "T" and ball valve for that add. OK what else can you think of? Help a poor newbie out?