Live Rock Question

zhewitt04 · 10/23/2012, 10:05 PM

I work at a injectin molding company. We make plasitc parts and we have a lof of excess "purge" some of it is a heavier density than water. I got to thinking one night. Could I use som of this in my sump as "live rock" for bacterial growth? I don't care about the look since it will be in my sump and I have a abundant amount of it since we throw it away for the most part. Just was thinking.
Thanks ahead of time.

xfactor1315 · 10/23/2012, 10:17 PM

Is it food grade?

zhewitt04 · 10/23/2012, 10:32 PM

Yeah. All thermoplastics are I believe.

E36328i · 10/23/2012, 10:35 PM

Would probably work but it would be no different than bioballs. Which are a big "no-no" in reef tanks. Maybe you can use this stuff for frag plug material?..

Zappo · 10/23/2012, 11:34 PM

As long as it's food safe, I don't think it'll hurt anything. It probably won't have enough surface area to cause problems like bioballs do, but that means it also won't have the surface area to be of much use for filtration either. I wouldn't bother unless you find a piece with a shape that you find interesting enough to put in the tank for it's looks.

zhewitt04 · 10/23/2012, 11:41 PM

I agree with the surface area point but some of these purges piles have alot of pores because of moisture releaseing and leaving vacant holes. Not enought o casue problems of bio balls but very similar to rocks

zhewitt04 · 10/24/2012, 01:14 AM

Here is a picture of the purge

reefer_mon · 10/24/2012, 01:44 AM

Looks huge and the holes don't look hollow so I don't think it would act anything like a bio-ball. What does it look like if you cut into it? Like someone else said zoa plugs or frag plugs. Maybe?!?

Currently:
125G 6 ft. GLASS + 55G LONG SUMP/REFUGIUM

Sent from my iPhone

zhewitt04 · 10/24/2012, 02:25 AM

No there are no holes in it if I cut it. You don't think it has enough surface area to grow bacteria?

10/23/2012, 10:05 PM	#1
zhewitt04 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Kokomo, IN Posts: 764	Live Rock Question I work at a injectin molding company. We make plasitc parts and we have a lof of excess "purge" some of it is a heavier density than water. I got to thinking one night. Could I use som of this in my sump as "live rock" for bacterial growth? I don't care about the look since it will be in my sump and I have a abundant amount of it since we throw it away for the most part. Just was thinking. Thanks ahead of time.

10/23/2012, 10:17 PM	#2
xfactor1315 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 174	Is it food grade?

10/23/2012, 10:32 PM	#3
zhewitt04 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Kokomo, IN Posts: 764	Yeah. All thermoplastics are I believe.

10/23/2012, 10:35 PM	#4
E36328i Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Atascadero, California Posts: 241	Would probably work but it would be no different than bioballs. Which are a big "no-no" in reef tanks. Maybe you can use this stuff for frag plug material?..

10/23/2012, 11:34 PM	#5
Zappo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Minnetonka, MN Posts: 582	As long as it's food safe, I don't think it'll hurt anything. It probably won't have enough surface area to cause problems like bioballs do, but that means it also won't have the surface area to be of much use for filtration either. I wouldn't bother unless you find a piece with a shape that you find interesting enough to put in the tank for it's looks.

10/23/2012, 11:41 PM	#6
zhewitt04 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Kokomo, IN Posts: 764	I agree with the surface area point but some of these purges piles have alot of pores because of moisture releaseing and leaving vacant holes. Not enought o casue problems of bio balls but very similar to rocks

10/24/2012, 01:44 AM	#8
reefer_mon Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Sin City ♠♥♣♦ Posts: 82	Looks huge and the holes don't look hollow so I don't think it would act anything like a bio-ball. What does it look like if you cut into it? Like someone else said zoa plugs or frag plugs. Maybe?!? Currently: 125G 6 ft. GLASS + 55G LONG SUMP/REFUGIUM Sent from my iPhone

10/24/2012, 02:25 AM	#9
zhewitt04 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Kokomo, IN Posts: 764	No there are no holes in it if I cut it. You don't think it has enough surface area to grow bacteria?