Can I use live rock that I dig up in my backyard?

miogpsrocks · 10/18/2015, 04:05 AM

Hello.

I live in the south Florida area on the water and I think my house may have been on a coral reef thousand of years ago because when I dig down, I often hit large coral rocks. Its very hard stuff.

Anyway, I was wondering if I collect these coral peaces and maybe like boil them, throw them in beach, or leave them in the sun if they can eventually be used as live rock in a salt water aquarium.

I am 100% sure that these rocks are actually old coral but I don't know if being underground for all this time has ruined them for aquarium use.

Thanks.

Dkuhlmann · 10/18/2015, 04:21 AM

First of all NEVER BOIL ROCKS> Sure it's possible to use what you are finding can you post a picture of the rocks you are digging up?

If they are the same I would just clean the mud off of them the bleach them, allow to dry in the sun and then start them in salt mix bin and start the cycle.

Ron Reefman · 10/18/2015, 05:17 AM

Thr rocks are probably OK. I'm in SW Florida and I have used a few local rocks we found in the area because they were extra cool shapes. It is old coral reef and you can find some nice porous rock if you look around enough.

I put mine in a 7 gallon bucket with tap water and cover it. I leave it in the sun for a couple days, then change the water. I do this a few times until the rocks are clean and the water doesn't stink after a few days in the sun.

Then I put them in a bucket with RO/DI water and after a few days test for ammonia, nitrate, and phosphate. If I get zeros, it's good. If there is a reading, it goes back into buckets to cook in the sun some more.

shifty51008 · 10/18/2015, 05:10 PM

I wouldnt see why not. Most base rock in this hobby come from dug up old coral reefs. I would take a pressure washer and clean them off really good then soak them for a week, if no phosphate readings you should be good to go

whosurcaddie · 10/18/2015, 05:29 PM

To add to what shifty recommended you really want to check the phosphate of rock that's been dug from the ground. Its much easier and cheaper to pull phosphate out of rock in a bin than in a DT. If your reading phosphate in the water you're gonna want to get some lanthanum chloride and go through a dosing regimen to pull the phosphate from the rock. http://www.amazon.com/SeaKlear-Phosp...words=seaklear

Also once you clean the rocks if you see any orange dark orange or red, toss em. You want it to be white or off white. Those colors mean heavy metals have leached into the rocks.

Edit: I would go ahead and do it while your cycling the rock just to be sure.

Bent · 10/18/2015, 06:57 PM

Post some pics of this stuff. I'd like to see it.

whosurcaddie · 10/18/2015, 07:25 PM

Wrong link for the seaklear.http://www.amazon.com/SeaKlear-SKZ-U...words=seaklear

10/18/2015, 04:05 AM	#1
miogpsrocks Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Posts: 78	Can I use live rock that I dig up in my backyard? Hello. I live in the south Florida area on the water and I think my house may have been on a coral reef thousand of years ago because when I dig down, I often hit large coral rocks. Its very hard stuff. Anyway, I was wondering if I collect these coral peaces and maybe like boil them, throw them in beach, or leave them in the sun if they can eventually be used as live rock in a salt water aquarium. I am 100% sure that these rocks are actually old coral but I don't know if being underground for all this time has ruined them for aquarium use. Thanks.

10/18/2015, 04:21 AM	#2
Dkuhlmann Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,823	First of all NEVER BOIL ROCKS> Sure it's possible to use what you are finding can you post a picture of the rocks you are digging up? If they are the same I would just clean the mud off of them the bleach them, allow to dry in the sun and then start them in salt mix bin and start the cycle. __________________ Previous tanks: 200 gal fowlr 9" Emperor Angel and many different butterfly fish 4" maroon clown and several other fish, 50 gal sump, 40 gal mixed reef/fish mostly softies and LPS. Current Tank Info: 40b 750 gph 45 lbs lr, 2"-3" sand, 165w full spectrum dimable LED, 20 gal sump/refugium 30 lbs lr, Bak Pak 2 skimmer, 4" sock temp 79-80, sg 1.026, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 <10, ph 8.2, calc 400, mag 1300

10/18/2015, 05:17 AM	#3
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Thr rocks are probably OK. I'm in SW Florida and I have used a few local rocks we found in the area because they were extra cool shapes. It is old coral reef and you can find some nice porous rock if you look around enough. I put mine in a 7 gallon bucket with tap water and cover it. I leave it in the sun for a couple days, then change the water. I do this a few times until the rocks are clean and the water doesn't stink after a few days in the sun. Then I put them in a bucket with RO/DI water and after a few days test for ammonia, nitrate, and phosphate. If I get zeros, it's good. If there is a reading, it goes back into buckets to cook in the sun some more. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

10/18/2015, 05:10 PM	#4
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	I wouldnt see why not. Most base rock in this hobby come from dug up old coral reefs. I would take a pressure washer and clean them off really good then soak them for a week, if no phosphate readings you should be good to go __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

10/18/2015, 06:57 PM	#6
Bent I got nothin' Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The anals Posts: 6,420	Post some pics of this stuff. I'd like to see it. __________________ Quitters never lose. [QUOTE=CStrickland]Who gets mad at a starfish?[/QUOTE] Current Tank Info: 75g DT, 30G refugium, 10g chaeto tank, 50g stock tank basement sump

10/18/2015, 05:29 PM	#5
whosurcaddie Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,354	To add to what shifty recommended you really want to check the phosphate of rock that's been dug from the ground. Its much easier and cheaper to pull phosphate out of rock in a bin than in a DT. If your reading phosphate in the water you're gonna want to get some lanthanum chloride and go through a dosing regimen to pull the phosphate from the rock. http://www.amazon.com/SeaKlear-Phosp...words=seaklear Also once you clean the rocks if you see any orange dark orange or red, toss em. You want it to be white or off white. Those colors mean heavy metals have leached into the rocks. Edit: I would go ahead and do it while your cycling the rock just to be sure.

10/18/2015, 07:25 PM	#7
whosurcaddie Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,354	Wrong link for the seaklear.http://www.amazon.com/SeaKlear-SKZ-U...words=seaklear