Marco Key Largo Dry Rock

E_Aquatics · 09/07/2014, 01:10 PM

Anybody who has used this rock from "Marco Rocks" experienced any issues with phosphates. How did you prepare the rock for the tank? I am thinking about ordering from them but wanted to get some feedback before I pull the trigger.

Thank you in advance!

inktomi · 09/07/2014, 01:13 PM

I've used it successfully in the past, and ordered it for a new tank that I'm setting up again. Most people report good success with it - if you want to be extra sure soak it in RODI water for a few days and find out if your specific rock is leaching or not.

If it is, you can treat with gfo, phons ban, lanthanum chloride, etc until the rock doesn't leach phosphates anymore.

For what it's worth you can have the same issues with real live rock

E_Aquatics · 09/07/2014, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inktomi

I've used it successfully in the past, and ordered it for a new tank that I'm setting up again. Most people report good success with it - if you want to be extra sure soak it in RODI water for a few days and find out if your specific rock is leaching or not.

If it is, you can treat with gfo, phons ban, lanthanum chloride, etc until the rock doesn't leach phosphates anymore.

For what it's worth you can have the same issues with real live rock

I haven't really read any bad reviews about their rocks so I might just order it... I have used BRS reef saver rock before and had no issues and Marcos rock looks identical to the BRS reef saver and I can get it for a lot less.

GreshamH · 09/07/2014, 01:17 PM

I've used a few hundred pounds and never experienced elevated phosphate levels from it

E_Aquatics · 09/07/2014, 01:18 PM

Any of you used their aroganite sand? How fine is their "fine" sand?

albano · 09/07/2014, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E_Aquatics

Anybody who has used this rock from "Marco Rocks" experienced any issues with phosphates.

From what I've heard...it's a problem with Florida 'dry' rock that hasn't been in the ocean for ~million yrs...

E_Aquatics · 09/07/2014, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albano

From what I've heard...it's a problem with Florida 'dry' rock that hasn't been in the ocean for ~million yrs...

Not sure I understand

albano · 09/07/2014, 02:06 PM

Apparently, Florida is full of phosphates...

FGS, Florida Minerals - Welcome | Florida Department of ...
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/g...s/minerals.htm
Phosphate - Florida producers supplied approximately one-quarter of the world's phosphate needs and three-quarters of US domestic needs.

inktomi · 09/07/2014, 03:16 PM

I just went and tested the RODI water I've had some soaking in for the past week - 0 PO4.

I'd recommend testing your rock, who knows - it could be different. It's easy to do.

AcroporAddict · 09/07/2014, 05:10 PM

Marco Key Largo is fantastic dry rock. Porous, lightweight, and zero phosphate issues. I used 150-175# of it as base rock in my 465 gallon SPS tank, and placed my live Totoka from the old reef on top of it. No PO4 issues in two years, and I have never heard mention on RC or any other Forum about phosphates from it period.

The stuff stacks and locks together like a jigsaw puzzle. Great for building a reef structure.

Buzz1329 · 09/07/2014, 05:51 PM

I've had 150 # of it in one of my tanks for about 16 months now. Never had any problem with phosphates.

albano · 09/07/2014, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AcroporAddict

and I have never heard mention on RC or any other Forum about phosphates from it period.

A quick search showed a few threads that mention it, just it the past year.

E_Aquatics · 09/07/2014, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albano

Apparently, Florida is full of phosphates...

FGS, Florida Minerals - Welcome | Florida Department of ...
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/g...s/minerals.htm
Phosphate - Florida producers supplied approximately one-quarter of the world's phosphate needs and three-quarters of US domestic needs.

I went back and re-read his comment and now I get it lol

Thank you for the link, very informative

E_Aquatics · 09/07/2014, 06:37 PM

Thank you all for your contribution! It seems the majority of people have not experienced any issues with the rock leaching phosphates. If I decide to go with this rock I will make sure to test it before using it in the tank to make sure its phosphate free

AcroporAddict · 09/07/2014, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by albano

A quick search showed a few threads that mention it, just it the past year.

Link(s) please. I can't find any threads complaining of problem phosphates from Key Largo, which is what I posted.

E_Aquatics · 09/08/2014, 03:56 PM

I tried searching and didn't find any threads of phosphate issues.

AcroporAddict · 09/08/2014, 04:51 PM

It is the BRS Pukani that has to be acid washed, apparently. The Key largo is just rinse and place. There are no organics on it since it is quarried.

Fiveinfive · 09/08/2014, 04:54 PM

I ordered 100lbs of marco dry rocks. No problems at all. Just make sure you leave a message at the checkout to package the rocks with extra padding. I had lots of crumbles two make two big rocks. Overall, nice rocks!!!

E_Aquatics · 09/08/2014, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiveinfive

I ordered 100lbs of marco dry rocks. No problems at all. Just make sure you leave a message at the checkout to package the rocks with extra padding. I had lots of crumbles two make two big rocks. Overall, nice rocks!!!

That sounds like a good idea. I have ordered BRS rock before and while they use a LOT of peanuts I always get a lot of ruble but UPS might play a part in that as well.

AcroporAddict · 09/08/2014, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E_Aquatics

That sounds like a good idea. I have ordered BRS rock before and while they use a LOT of peanuts I always get a lot of ruble but UPS might play a part in that as well.

Each of the rocks in my Key Largo shipment were individually bubble wrapped. I thought that was pretty cool.

E_Aquatics · 09/08/2014, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AcroporAddict

Each of the rocks in my Key Largo shipment were individually bubble wrapped. I thought that was pretty cool.

That will definitely ensure the rocks arrive in better condition than just putting them all together in one box with packing peanuts around them. With the rocks shifting in the box the peanuts will eventually get crushed.

inktomi · 09/08/2014, 10:04 PM

MarcoRock does ship each rock wrapped separately. Some does break anyway, but most arrives intact.

AcroporAddict · 09/08/2014, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inktomi

MarcoRock does ship each rock wrapped separately. Some does break anyway, but most arrives intact.

I saved the little breakage there was for frag mounts. Looks better to glue a small piece of key largo onto Key Largo than an frag plug.

markfmvl · 09/08/2014, 11:30 PM

I used about 25 pounds of Marco rocks in my 55. It has been running for about 4 weeks, the rock is still clean, It may be early yet but very little algae except on the live rock I bought last week and today. I did not even rinse the rocks before filling the tank. We will see how it goes.....

CoralReef2017 · 09/08/2014, 11:48 PM

Looks like great rock.

09/07/2014, 01:10 PM	#1
E_Aquatics Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: FL Posts: 194	Marco Key Largo Dry Rock Anybody who has used this rock from "Marco Rocks" experienced any issues with phosphates. How did you prepare the rock for the tank? I am thinking about ordering from them but wanted to get some feedback before I pull the trigger. Thank you in advance!

09/07/2014, 01:13 PM	#2
inktomi Aviator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 960	I've used it successfully in the past, and ordered it for a new tank that I'm setting up again. Most people report good success with it - if you want to be extra sure soak it in RODI water for a few days and find out if your specific rock is leaching or not. If it is, you can treat with gfo, phons ban, lanthanum chloride, etc until the rock doesn't leach phosphates anymore. For what it's worth you can have the same issues with real live rock __________________ ----------- Check out my YouTube channel as well. Search "ReefMan". Current Tank Info: 275g AGE, 5 Radion Pro, 4 MP40

09/07/2014, 01:17 PM	#4
GreshamH Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Posts: 9,474	I've used a few hundred pounds and never experienced elevated phosphate levels from it __________________ Gresham _______________________________ Feeding your reef...one polyp at a time

09/07/2014, 02:06 PM	#8
albano SALTWATER since '73 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Katonah, NY/ San Fernando Ca./ Sea Isle City NJ Posts: 6,210	Apparently, Florida is full of phosphates... FGS, Florida Minerals - Welcome \| Florida Department of ... http://www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/g...s/minerals.htm Phosphate - Florida producers supplied approximately one-quarter of the world's phosphate needs and three-quarters of US domestic needs. __________________ ______________________________________ Jan. '11 TOTM Manhattan Reefs Current Tank Info: 500g & 200g acrylic DTs/2 separate reef systems

09/07/2014, 03:16 PM	#9
inktomi Aviator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 960	I just went and tested the RODI water I've had some soaking in for the past week - 0 PO4. I'd recommend testing your rock, who knows - it could be different. It's easy to do. __________________ ----------- Check out my YouTube channel as well. Search "ReefMan". Current Tank Info: 275g AGE, 5 Radion Pro, 4 MP40

09/07/2014, 01:18 PM	#5
E_Aquatics Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: FL Posts: 194	Any of you used their aroganite sand? How fine is their "fine" sand?

09/07/2014, 05:10 PM	#10
AcroporAddict There is no substitute. Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Southeast Posts: 2,269	Marco Key Largo is fantastic dry rock. Porous, lightweight, and zero phosphate issues. I used 150-175# of it as base rock in my 465 gallon SPS tank, and placed my live Totoka from the old reef on top of it. No PO4 issues in two years, and I have never heard mention on RC or any other Forum about phosphates from it period. The stuff stacks and locks together like a jigsaw puzzle. Great for building a reef structure. __________________ Recovering LED User, now Certified Skimmer Whore.

09/07/2014, 05:51 PM	#11
Buzz1329 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Staten Island Posts: 2,414	I've had 150 # of it in one of my tanks for about 16 months now. Never had any problem with phosphates.

09/07/2014, 06:37 PM	#14
E_Aquatics Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: FL Posts: 194	Thank you all for your contribution! It seems the majority of people have not experienced any issues with the rock leaching phosphates. If I decide to go with this rock I will make sure to test it before using it in the tank to make sure its phosphate free

09/08/2014, 03:56 PM	#16
E_Aquatics Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: FL Posts: 194	I tried searching and didn't find any threads of phosphate issues.

09/08/2014, 04:51 PM	#17
AcroporAddict There is no substitute. Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Southeast Posts: 2,269	It is the BRS Pukani that has to be acid washed, apparently. The Key largo is just rinse and place. There are no organics on it since it is quarried. __________________ Recovering LED User, now Certified Skimmer Whore.

09/08/2014, 04:54 PM	#18
Fiveinfive Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 16	I ordered 100lbs of marco dry rocks. No problems at all. Just make sure you leave a message at the checkout to package the rocks with extra padding. I had lots of crumbles two make two big rocks. Overall, nice rocks!!!

09/08/2014, 10:04 PM	#22
inktomi Aviator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 960	MarcoRock does ship each rock wrapped separately. Some does break anyway, but most arrives intact. __________________ ----------- Check out my YouTube channel as well. Search "ReefMan". Current Tank Info: 275g AGE, 5 Radion Pro, 4 MP40

09/08/2014, 11:30 PM	#24
markfmvl Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 5	I used about 25 pounds of Marco rocks in my 55. It has been running for about 4 weeks, the rock is still clean, It may be early yet but very little algae except on the live rock I bought last week and today. I did not even rinse the rocks before filling the tank. We will see how it goes.....

09/08/2014, 11:48 PM	#25
CoralReef2017 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 11	Looks like great rock.