Benefit of using coral skeletons in reef tank?

AndyT5 · 09/11/2013, 11:48 PM

Hello all,

I have aquired about 35lbs of misc coral skeletons from a friend of mine who had them in a FOWLR tank. The only one I can identify is a red pipe organ skeleton. This one is about 12"x12"x18". Is there any benefit of using this in a reef setup? Any drawbacks? If it's not worth putting in the tank, is there a group of folks looking to buy this sort of thing so I can fund the rest of this project?

Thank you all for your help

Reefer54 · 09/12/2013, 12:06 AM

It makes great LR. But there is a lot of info you should find out prior to using it or selling it to someone who is. And others, help me out here when i miss some stuff.
-was there ever heavy metal exposure to the skele's for medication or other reason
-was it exposed to medications
-was it exposed to cleaning agents....bleach, lysol
-how was it dried? sun...oven.....thrown in a bucket in the garage and forgotten about

these are all things i would ask. if i were to sell it, i would cure it for a few months and bring it back to life then sell it live as it catches a better cost. or sell them on the bay to people who put dead animal skeletons on their dining room table and stuff like that. My 2 cents

AndyT5 · 09/13/2013, 10:35 PM

Lucky for me I was able to get some information about them from the guy I got'm from. No meds used in his tank, just usual supplements. He pulled them out and dried them in his shop under lights and fans for a month then wrapped them in paper and boxed them up. I may keep some of it, but probably end up ditching a bit of it, just doesn't fit the tank. Ive got them in the tank now, will cycle them with some LR for awhile and see if I can off'm. Thank you for the info!

cloak · 09/13/2013, 11:22 PM

I would just bust them up and use them for frag plugs... Then again, you can probably build your rock structure up out of LEGOS and make it work.

Reefer54 · 09/13/2013, 11:27 PM

Frag plugs is a great idea, unless there a few pieces to cherry pick. Cure that stuff. It sounds like quality potential. I personally like natural plugs a HECK of a LOT MORE than the round ones. Ever seen a beautiful natural looking reef destroyed by little round discs everywhere? I cant stand it.

Good deal finding that info....thats huge.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cloak

I would just bust them up and use them for frag plugs... Then again, you can probably build your rock structure up out of LEGOS and make it work.

09/11/2013, 11:48 PM	#1
AndyT5 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Carmichael, CA Posts: 29	Benefit of using coral skeletons in reef tank? Hello all, I have aquired about 35lbs of misc coral skeletons from a friend of mine who had them in a FOWLR tank. The only one I can identify is a red pipe organ skeleton. This one is about 12"x12"x18". Is there any benefit of using this in a reef setup? Any drawbacks? If it's not worth putting in the tank, is there a group of folks looking to buy this sort of thing so I can fund the rest of this project? Thank you all for your help

09/12/2013, 12:06 AM	#2
Reefer54 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Avon Posts: 1,087	It makes great LR. But there is a lot of info you should find out prior to using it or selling it to someone who is. And others, help me out here when i miss some stuff. -was there ever heavy metal exposure to the skele's for medication or other reason -was it exposed to medications -was it exposed to cleaning agents....bleach, lysol -how was it dried? sun...oven.....thrown in a bucket in the garage and forgotten about these are all things i would ask. if i were to sell it, i would cure it for a few months and bring it back to life then sell it live as it catches a better cost. or sell them on the bay to people who put dead animal skeletons on their dining room table and stuff like that. My 2 cents __________________ R54 Current Tank Info: 36 x 36 x 25 Cube, mixed reef, A360WE x 3, A350N x 1, 40GB sump, RDSB, Remote LR Cryptic, 2 WP-40's, ummm....

09/13/2013, 10:35 PM	#3
AndyT5 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Carmichael, CA Posts: 29	Lucky for me I was able to get some information about them from the guy I got'm from. No meds used in his tank, just usual supplements. He pulled them out and dried them in his shop under lights and fans for a month then wrapped them in paper and boxed them up. I may keep some of it, but probably end up ditching a bit of it, just doesn't fit the tank. Ive got them in the tank now, will cycle them with some LR for awhile and see if I can off'm. Thank you for the info!

09/13/2013, 11:22 PM	#4
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	I would just bust them up and use them for frag plugs... Then again, you can probably build your rock structure up out of LEGOS and make it work.