Limestone lace rock as base rock?

lessthanlights · 10/03/2006, 12:05 AM

I was visiting a LFS (not so local to me) and found the most amazing pieces of limestone lace rock. I asked the employee if it was safe to use as base rock for my reef and she said it was as long is it was soaked for a month or so. Her limestone dropped the ph of her cichlid tank like a rock for a month. I ended up buying two piece, 85 pounds, that are now sitting in water on my deck. My question is is limestone safe as base rock. I know some use crushed limestone as substrate with mixed results. And TBS dumps limestone in the ocean to harvest later as liverock. But that rock is sitting in the ocean for years not months. I've tested the water several times with no big ph swings yet. Ideas? Opinions? Thoughts? Should I use it or not?

Thanks

bertoni · 10/03/2006, 06:23 PM

It's probably safe, but there are no guarantees with rock of that type. It might leach toxic metals, for example. People have used it with success.

Andrew · 10/03/2006, 06:32 PM

90% of the rock in my 75 is lacerock. Works really good and colors up nice.

10/03/2006, 12:05 AM	#1
lessthanlights Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Duluth, MN Posts: 606	Limestone lace rock as base rock? I was visiting a LFS (not so local to me) and found the most amazing pieces of limestone lace rock. I asked the employee if it was safe to use as base rock for my reef and she said it was as long is it was soaked for a month or so. Her limestone dropped the ph of her cichlid tank like a rock for a month. I ended up buying two piece, 85 pounds, that are now sitting in water on my deck. My question is is limestone safe as base rock. I know some use crushed limestone as substrate with mixed results. And TBS dumps limestone in the ocean to harvest later as liverock. But that rock is sitting in the ocean for years not months. I've tested the water several times with no big ph swings yet. Ideas? Opinions? Thoughts? Should I use it or not? Thanks

10/03/2006, 06:23 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	It's probably safe, but there are no guarantees with rock of that type. It might leach toxic metals, for example. People have used it with success. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

10/03/2006, 06:32 PM	#3
Andrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13,640	90% of the rock in my 75 is lacerock. Works really good and colors up nice.