using lava rock as bio filtration

da1jewfish · 09/07/2008, 12:42 PM

I have used it with success in freshwater aquariums. Just wondering if anyone has or still use it in reef tanks. It is such a porous rock and because of this should be the best per surface area than almost any. What do yall think?

agreeive?fish · 09/07/2008, 12:49 PM

I used it for a 29g for about 3 years and had great pod population (supported a mandrin)..and 2 seahorses... and i had to do less maintenance on the 29g than i did on the 210g with out it... infact when i move in the near future iam setting up the 210g with it just watch your fish selection because the lava rock can / does have sharp edges

Nicholas89 · 09/07/2008, 02:31 PM

I plan on putting lots of lava rock in my 100 gallon rubbermaid sump for my new 65 gallon.

billdogg · 09/07/2008, 02:44 PM

the LR in my 60g cube started out as one giant hunk of lava rock i got from a landscaping company. Using large spade bits in my drill and a hammer and chisel, i made it into a mini reef with numerous swimthroughs. It's been up and running now since 1992.

da1jewfish · 09/07/2008, 05:42 PM

thats what I thought.... thanks all

smootie · 09/07/2008, 05:54 PM

I thought lava rock leached bad stuff into your water. If I had known it was ok to use in aquaria, I would have - I'm surrounded by the stuff!

da1jewfish · 09/08/2008, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by smootie
I thought lava rock leached bad stuff into your water. If I had known it was ok to use in aquaria, I would have - I'm surrounded by the stuff!

o yeah. isn't most of your lava rock black?

pbradley0 · 09/08/2008, 07:46 PM

from what I understand, true lava rock will leach bad stuff into the water but the stuff we commonly refer to as lava rock (the stuff found in fish stores) is completely inert.

Salamander · 09/08/2008, 08:56 PM

I personally wouldn't use lava rock or any basalt in my reef. I doubt much is purely inert or just 100% silica glass. Depending on where it came from (even down to the individual flow, cinder cone or even separate events from the same vent) it could have various kinds of unknown mineral inclusions. I wouldn't risk my tank to save a few bucks.

da1jewfish · 09/08/2008, 09:28 PM

ok, so what is a good source to use for bio, something porous. I used to use fluval's media max but can't seem to find it anymore.

seapug · 09/08/2008, 10:00 PM

limestone tufa rock is a much better/safer choice for a reef tank. Lava rock can leach all kinds of nasty metals in a closed system aquarium.

2006 · 09/08/2008, 10:37 PM

I wouldn't use it. I tried lava rock back when reef keeping was just starting to get popular. Tank was established with fish before adding inverts. Started with a condy anemone, died in less than a week. Tried again same result. Started researching and found out lava rock can leach metals into the water. Removed lava rock and ran Kent Toxic Metal Sponge for a week. No problems afterwards with any inverts in that tank for the 3 years I had it including a long tentacle anenome.

09/07/2008, 12:42 PM	#1
da1jewfish Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: West Palm, FL Posts: 990	using lava rock as bio filtration I have used it with success in freshwater aquariums. Just wondering if anyone has or still use it in reef tanks. It is such a porous rock and because of this should be the best per surface area than almost any. What do yall think?

09/07/2008, 02:44 PM	#4
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	the LR in my 60g cube started out as one giant hunk of lava rock i got from a landscaping company. Using large spade bits in my drill and a hammer and chisel, i made it into a mini reef with numerous swimthroughs. It's been up and running now since 1992. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

09/08/2008, 08:56 PM	#9
Salamander Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Flagstaff, Arizona Posts: 2,103	I personally wouldn't use lava rock or any basalt in my reef. I doubt much is purely inert or just 100% silica glass. Depending on where it came from (even down to the individual flow, cinder cone or even separate events from the same vent) it could have various kinds of unknown mineral inclusions. I wouldn't risk my tank to save a few bucks. __________________ I feel more like myself now than I did before. Current Tank Info: 120g mixed reef, 2 x 250W DE MH, 2 x 54w T5, MSX 200 SKimmer, 2 Koralia 4's, 40g fuge/sump, QT

09/08/2008, 10:00 PM	#11
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	limestone tufa rock is a much better/safer choice for a reef tank. Lava rock can leach all kinds of nasty metals in a closed system aquarium. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

09/07/2008, 12:49 PM	#2
agreeive?fish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,803	I used it for a 29g for about 3 years and had great pod population (supported a mandrin)..and 2 seahorses... and i had to do less maintenance on the 29g than i did on the 210g with out it... infact when i move in the near future iam setting up the 210g with it just watch your fish selection because the lava rock can / does have sharp edges

09/07/2008, 02:31 PM	#3
Nicholas89 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 218	I plan on putting lots of lava rock in my 100 gallon rubbermaid sump for my new 65 gallon.

09/07/2008, 05:42 PM	#5
da1jewfish Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: West Palm, FL Posts: 990	thats what I thought.... thanks all

09/07/2008, 05:54 PM	#6
smootie Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 99	I thought lava rock leached bad stuff into your water. If I had known it was ok to use in aquaria, I would have - I'm surrounded by the stuff!

09/08/2008, 07:46 PM	#8
pbradley0 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 185	from what I understand, true lava rock will leach bad stuff into the water but the stuff we commonly refer to as lava rock (the stuff found in fish stores) is completely inert.

09/08/2008, 09:28 PM	#10
da1jewfish Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: West Palm, FL Posts: 990	ok, so what is a good source to use for bio, something porous. I used to use fluval's media max but can't seem to find it anymore.

09/08/2008, 10:37 PM	#12
2006 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 730	I wouldn't use it. I tried lava rock back when reef keeping was just starting to get popular. Tank was established with fish before adding inverts. Started with a condy anemone, died in less than a week. Tried again same result. Started researching and found out lava rock can leach metals into the water. Removed lava rock and ran Kent Toxic Metal Sponge for a week. No problems afterwards with any inverts in that tank for the 3 years I had it including a long tentacle anenome.