live rock question

staticx · 12/01/2006, 07:24 AM

Okay I was just wondering so please dont go on a bashing rampage. I live right by the ocean and wondered if I could go there get some rock and boil it and then use it as base rock. I know people usually go far out to sea but I thouhgt maybe just for base rock. there is a place that is covered in rock and it is legal to take as much as you want. I live in oregon but I am not sure if the rock would be porus enough or not.

papagimp · 12/01/2006, 07:29 AM

If it's legal to obtain, and it's actual aragonite based reef rock than I'd say go for it. I'm assuming your talking about rocks on or near the beach, if your thinking about using rock taken out of the ocean, then boiling it would deafeat the purpose of having the live rock. If you're talking just about plain old' rocks on the beach, none aragonite stuff, then it would be the same as getting rocks from your back yard and I would avoid that, You won't know what kind of harmefull heavy metals and whatnot will leech into your tank, boiling othem first or not. Plus they would not be porus enough.

staticx · 12/01/2006, 07:33 AM

well since its oregon the water is really really cold so I am not looking for actual live rock but there is a spot you can go with all diff sizez I am just not sure if the oregon coast has actual aragonite rock I wonder how I would even be able to tell. I mean there are lots and lots of tide pools with all sorts of anemonies and stuff but not sure what kind of rock it is. Nor would I take rock form a tide pool.

papagimp · 12/01/2006, 07:36 AM

aragonite rock is simply reef rock. It's calcium based from the dead skeletons of corals over all those years of breakdown and reubuild that the reefs do, 'aragonite" is just another word for this type of base material. Even "aragonite sand" is made from the same stuff, just broken down from rock form to sand form.
If the rock came from the corals, it's good rock. If you're seeing tidepools with anemones and similar invert life along with actual corals, odds are it's reef rock. I know their are places in Hawaii where people collect the dry base rock from the shores and in dried out tidepools and whatnot.

for what it's worth, even being cold, the rock would still have some life in it. Just a type situated for those climates.

staticx · 12/01/2006, 07:39 AM

I am not sure about corals though like I said the water is cold cold cold, Is it possible to be arg rock even if the water is cold.

staticx · 12/01/2006, 07:40 AM

Hey by the way thanks for the quick response and all the good info.

kfowler · 12/01/2006, 07:41 AM

My only fear would be shore polutants. Especially thinks that might slowly leach back into the tank.

staticx · 12/01/2006, 03:17 PM

Do you think if i boiled the rock I could get rid of them

davocean · 12/01/2006, 03:41 PM

For base I think your good, and I would boil it also.
People who culture LR just take what I believe is limestone and age it in the ocean for a year or more.
So eventually you'll have living organisms on that rock.
PUSH IT!LOL
Static X!

staticx · 12/01/2006, 03:49 PM

LOL
thanks dave ocean

phurst · 12/01/2006, 04:08 PM

There's an easy way to tell if it's aragonite. Just take a small piece home with you and put it in a glass of white vinegar. If it bubbles, it's aragonite, if it doesn't it's just a rock.

staticx · 12/01/2006, 04:17 PM

right on thanks

12/01/2006, 07:24 AM	#1
staticx Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: oregon Posts: 825	live rock question Okay I was just wondering so please dont go on a bashing rampage. I live right by the ocean and wondered if I could go there get some rock and boil it and then use it as base rock. I know people usually go far out to sea but I thouhgt maybe just for base rock. there is a place that is covered in rock and it is legal to take as much as you want. I live in oregon but I am not sure if the rock would be porus enough or not.

12/01/2006, 07:29 AM	#2
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	If it's legal to obtain, and it's actual aragonite based reef rock than I'd say go for it. I'm assuming your talking about rocks on or near the beach, if your thinking about using rock taken out of the ocean, then boiling it would deafeat the purpose of having the live rock. If you're talking just about plain old' rocks on the beach, none aragonite stuff, then it would be the same as getting rocks from your back yard and I would avoid that, You won't know what kind of harmefull heavy metals and whatnot will leech into your tank, boiling othem first or not. Plus they would not be porus enough. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

12/01/2006, 07:36 AM	#4
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	aragonite rock is simply reef rock. It's calcium based from the dead skeletons of corals over all those years of breakdown and reubuild that the reefs do, 'aragonite" is just another word for this type of base material. Even "aragonite sand" is made from the same stuff, just broken down from rock form to sand form. If the rock came from the corals, it's good rock. If you're seeing tidepools with anemones and similar invert life along with actual corals, odds are it's reef rock. I know their are places in Hawaii where people collect the dry base rock from the shores and in dried out tidepools and whatnot. for what it's worth, even being cold, the rock would still have some life in it. Just a type situated for those climates. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

12/01/2006, 07:41 AM	#7
kfowler Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,095	My only fear would be shore polutants. Especially thinks that might slowly leach back into the tank. __________________ Kevin "You cannot achieve what you are not willing to pursue." Current Tank Info: 20g Mixed Reef

12/01/2006, 03:41 PM	#9
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	For base I think your good, and I would boil it also. People who culture LR just take what I believe is limestone and age it in the ocean for a year or more. So eventually you'll have living organisms on that rock. PUSH IT!LOL Static X! __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

12/01/2006, 07:33 AM	#3
staticx Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: oregon Posts: 825	well since its oregon the water is really really cold so I am not looking for actual live rock but there is a spot you can go with all diff sizez I am just not sure if the oregon coast has actual aragonite rock I wonder how I would even be able to tell. I mean there are lots and lots of tide pools with all sorts of anemonies and stuff but not sure what kind of rock it is. Nor would I take rock form a tide pool.

12/01/2006, 07:39 AM	#5
staticx Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: oregon Posts: 825	I am not sure about corals though like I said the water is cold cold cold, Is it possible to be arg rock even if the water is cold.

12/01/2006, 07:40 AM	#6
staticx Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: oregon Posts: 825	Hey by the way thanks for the quick response and all the good info.

12/01/2006, 03:17 PM	#8
staticx Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: oregon Posts: 825	Do you think if i boiled the rock I could get rid of them

12/01/2006, 03:49 PM	#10
staticx Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: oregon Posts: 825	LOL thanks dave ocean

12/01/2006, 04:08 PM	#11
phurst Richmond Reefer Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 5,837	There's an easy way to tell if it's aragonite. Just take a small piece home with you and put it in a glass of white vinegar. If it bubbles, it's aragonite, if it doesn't it's just a rock. __________________ _______ Pearson _______ Current Tank Info: Various tanks of various sizes with various gear.

12/01/2006, 04:17 PM	#12
staticx Moved On Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: oregon Posts: 825	right on thanks