search for porous fuge/sump rock

jadeguppy · 10/11/2008, 12:55 PM

I know we all want porous rock in our sumps and fuges to help provide surface are for bacteria and breeding space for pods. After my trip to the beach today I started thinking about using sanddollar pieces. Nothing live, only the big pieces that break up in the waves and wash up. The inside of sanddollars are very porous and they are calcium based which shoudl help keep pH stable. Of course, boiling first is a must. What do you guys and gals think about the idea?

madtek580 · 10/14/2008, 06:38 AM

I've actually been doing this for about three months now and they work great, very porous like you said and alot cheaper than rock rubble. I've been using them for frags and also have a large pile in my fuge which has been adopted by hundreds of pods. When I first started i was concerned about something from the gulf getting in so I boiled first for about 20 minutes, then gave a kalk bath for about 3 hours then placed a few trays of them in the back of my toilet for about three weeks, I'm starting to think that was process is a little overkill. I just went out to the beach yesterday and gathered a bucket full right before I read this post, You are the first person I've seen post that they use sand dollars, I was getting worried that there was a reason no one was using them.

Speedway_06 · 10/14/2008, 07:41 AM

very interesting..I would have never thought of that..thanks for the info

jadeguppy · 10/14/2008, 02:39 PM

I put a few pieces in the sump to test out. It sounds like you took the plung too and are having great results. Very encouraging.

10/11/2008, 12:55 PM	#1
jadeguppy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: nw Florida Posts: 2,611	search for porous fuge/sump rock I know we all want porous rock in our sumps and fuges to help provide surface are for bacteria and breeding space for pods. After my trip to the beach today I started thinking about using sanddollar pieces. Nothing live, only the big pieces that break up in the waves and wash up. The inside of sanddollars are very porous and they are calcium based which shoudl help keep pH stable. Of course, boiling first is a must. What do you guys and gals think about the idea?

10/14/2008, 06:38 AM	#2
madtek580 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Navarre, FL Posts: 61	I've actually been doing this for about three months now and they work great, very porous like you said and alot cheaper than rock rubble. I've been using them for frags and also have a large pile in my fuge which has been adopted by hundreds of pods. When I first started i was concerned about something from the gulf getting in so I boiled first for about 20 minutes, then gave a kalk bath for about 3 hours then placed a few trays of them in the back of my toilet for about three weeks, I'm starting to think that was process is a little overkill. I just went out to the beach yesterday and gathered a bucket full right before I read this post, You are the first person I've seen post that they use sand dollars, I was getting worried that there was a reason no one was using them.

10/14/2008, 07:41 AM	#3
Speedway_06 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Kent, WA Posts: 65	very interesting..I would have never thought of that..thanks for the info

10/14/2008, 02:39 PM	#4
jadeguppy Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: nw Florida Posts: 2,611	I put a few pieces in the sump to test out. It sounds like you took the plung too and are having great results. Very encouraging.