Man made purple rock

ken6217 · 07/30/2011, 07:13 PM

I have seen in a few stores man made "live rock" that has been painted purple. I don't know if the company is called "Geo".

Anyway, is it OK to use some of this rock along with mixing real live rock in stetting up my reef tank?

I don't think it is as porous though and so I was wondering if it is OK to use, and what % of the total rock would I use of the man made?

Also should this rock be phosphate free and should Coraline algae cover this rock as it would any rock?

Thank you.
Ken

Angel*Fish · 07/30/2011, 07:16 PM

I don't know about safety, but if it's not porous, then it seems a waste of space. Also I don't see much point in it, as it will eventually be covered with micro algae, coralline and sponges unless you take it out and wash it regularly.

ken6217 · 07/30/2011, 07:30 PM

I don't understand your second half of your sentence. Why would this rock be covered eventually with anything different than any other live rock in your tank, and have to clean it off?

With low or no phosphates on your tank there wouldn't be nay algae on any rock.

I understand that it is not as porous as LR and you would have to use more of it, but I was looking for comments from people that have had experience with this artificial rock or knows information about it.

Thanks,
Ken

Angel*Fish · 07/30/2011, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken6217

I don't understand your second half of your sentence. Why would this rock be covered eventually with anything different than any other live rock in your tank, and have to clean it off?

With low or no phosphates on your tank there wouldn't be nay algae on any rock.

I understand that it is not as porous as LR and you would have to use more of it, but I was looking for comments from people that have had experience with this artificial rock or knows information about it.

Thanks,
Ken

My point was why buy painted purple rock when it won't stay that way? (Unless you clean it)

Among other things, there will be microalgae on your rock. And you already said you wanted coralline algae on the rock, so that shouldn't sound so way out there.

Sugar Magnolia · 07/30/2011, 07:56 PM

I've seen it first hand. Don't waste your money. Either buy live rock or dry rock and seed it. With optimum water parameters it will be covered in coraline in no time.

BTW, it looks as fake as it is.

pmrossetti1 · 07/30/2011, 08:20 PM

I think it looks kind of cool. When it takes on coralline, all the better. Don't know about its porosity though.

ken6217 · 07/30/2011, 09:06 PM

You're missing my point. I don'y care that it is purple. I was just referencing that this is the way it comes. I want it to get covered by coraline.

I was just trying to find out if anyone had any experience with this rock as I was thinking of adding aBOUT 20% of my tanks rock with this type. I was curious too if it is safe.
Ken

zy112 · 07/30/2011, 09:09 PM

Not sure what the purpose of this rock would be, considering you don't think it's porous and coralline will eventually cover it anyway. Is it cheap? I would stick with good ole LR

wbdevers · 07/30/2011, 09:11 PM

My LFS sells the purple stuff and so that's what I've got the majority of in my tank. It actually looks great to begin with, but the purple fads and then coralline grows as well as everything else so it really didn't matter. It is defo not as porous as true LR or base, but it is live and it has a nice color to it, at least mine did and I liked so that was what really mattered.

Angel*Fish · 07/30/2011, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken6217

You're missing my point. I don'y care that it is purple. I was just referencing that this is the way it comes. I want it to get covered by coraline.

Then what is the point of using it? You can buy very porous (more beneficial) dry rock that will become fully colonized.

ken6217 · 07/31/2011, 07:33 AM

Actually I was looking for a couple of pieces in a certain shape that I couldn't find at the LFS with LR and saw a couple pieces of the fake stuff and was curious if to use it. Just wanted to know if it was definitely safe.

My store did say though that he wouldn't use more than 40% of total rock needed of the fake stuff as it is not as porous.
Ken

Sugar Magnolia · 07/31/2011, 07:49 AM

I just bought some Haitian LR for $5.95/lb. The purple rock was $7.95/lb. No thanks.

jeremyblu · 07/31/2011, 07:55 AM

i have a friend that is rep for a company http://www.cerameco.com/index.php ther stuff is very porous he has it in his tank and its so purple it looks painted on and they can make what ever you want if you look at the site the one rock that has the hole in the middle he made it with flour and water and took pics and sent to them and he got back just what he wanted

snorvich · 07/31/2011, 08:00 AM

Some rock leeches phosphate. If you are planning a reef tank, be aware of that issue. If you care about algae, you might also consider that as well.

Circleofdocs · 07/31/2011, 08:00 AM

I have a ceramic piece... Love it. Its so bonsai

07/30/2011, 07:13 PM	#1
ken6217 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,179	Man made purple rock I have seen in a few stores man made "live rock" that has been painted purple. I don't know if the company is called "Geo". Anyway, is it OK to use some of this rock along with mixing real live rock in stetting up my reef tank? I don't think it is as porous though and so I was wondering if it is OK to use, and what % of the total rock would I use of the man made? Also should this rock be phosphate free and should Coraline algae cover this rock as it would any rock? Thank you. Ken

07/30/2011, 07:16 PM	#2
Angel*Fish cats and large squashes Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Houston Posts: 5,951 Blog Entries: 1	I don't know about safety, but if it's not porous, then it seems a waste of space. Also I don't see much point in it, as it will eventually be covered with micro algae, coralline and sponges unless you take it out and wash it regularly. __________________ Marie So long, & thanks for all the fish! __________________________ Current Tank Info: Pairs: flame angels, cherub angels, Red Sea mimic blennies, yellow fin fairy wrasses, clowns, mandarins, blackcap basslets, shrimp gobies, damsels, dispar anthias, yellow clown gobies, threadfin cardinals --- Tanks: 100g reef, 2 x 30g refugiums

07/30/2011, 07:56 PM	#5
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	I've seen it first hand. Don't waste your money. Either buy live rock or dry rock and seed it. With optimum water parameters it will be covered in coraline in no time. BTW, it looks as fake as it is. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

07/30/2011, 09:09 PM	#8
zy112 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 55	Not sure what the purpose of this rock would be, considering you don't think it's porous and coralline will eventually cover it anyway. Is it cheap? I would stick with good ole LR __________________ Z.Y. Current Tank Info: Tankless

07/30/2011, 09:11 PM	#9
wbdevers Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: MS Gulf Coast Posts: 754	My LFS sells the purple stuff and so that's what I've got the majority of in my tank. It actually looks great to begin with, but the purple fads and then coralline grows as well as everything else so it really didn't matter. It is defo not as porous as true LR or base, but it is live and it has a nice color to it, at least mine did and I liked so that was what really mattered. __________________ Wes Beatings will continue until morale improves!!! "I've sentenced boys younger than you to the gas chamber. Didn't want to do it. I felt I owed it to them."--Judge Smails Current Tank Info: 125g ML dual corner OF mixed reef, Custom stand and canopy, 40g custom sump, lighting (in flux :( )

07/30/2011, 07:30 PM	#3
ken6217 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,179	I don't understand your second half of your sentence. Why would this rock be covered eventually with anything different than any other live rock in your tank, and have to clean it off? With low or no phosphates on your tank there wouldn't be nay algae on any rock. I understand that it is not as porous as LR and you would have to use more of it, but I was looking for comments from people that have had experience with this artificial rock or knows information about it. Thanks, Ken

07/30/2011, 08:20 PM	#6
pmrossetti1 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 162	I think it looks kind of cool. When it takes on coralline, all the better. Don't know about its porosity though.

07/30/2011, 09:06 PM	#7
ken6217 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,179	You're missing my point. I don'y care that it is purple. I was just referencing that this is the way it comes. I want it to get covered by coraline. I was just trying to find out if anyone had any experience with this rock as I was thinking of adding aBOUT 20% of my tanks rock with this type. I was curious too if it is safe. Ken

07/31/2011, 07:33 AM	#11
ken6217 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,179	Actually I was looking for a couple of pieces in a certain shape that I couldn't find at the LFS with LR and saw a couple pieces of the fake stuff and was curious if to use it. Just wanted to know if it was definitely safe. My store did say though that he wouldn't use more than 40% of total rock needed of the fake stuff as it is not as porous. Ken

07/31/2011, 07:49 AM	#12
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	I just bought some Haitian LR for $5.95/lb. The purple rock was $7.95/lb. No thanks. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

07/31/2011, 07:55 AM	#13
jeremyblu Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 115	i have a friend that is rep for a company http://www.cerameco.com/index.php ther stuff is very porous he has it in his tank and its so purple it looks painted on and they can make what ever you want if you look at the site the one rock that has the hole in the middle he made it with flour and water and took pics and sent to them and he got back just what he wanted

07/31/2011, 08:00 AM	#14
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	Some rock leeches phosphate. If you are planning a reef tank, be aware of that issue. If you care about algae, you might also consider that as well. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

07/31/2011, 08:00 AM	#15
Circleofdocs Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Central Coast California Posts: 98	I have a ceramic piece... Love it. Its so bonsai

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