Lavarock to Liverock?

[nbku3vm]

I posted this in the set up and filtration forum and got no replies.

At my parents cabin in Northern Arizona, ther are cinders all over the place in all sizes. It is lava rock that is extremely porus and very light because of it. Has any body tried to create more live rock using this. Most of it is a beautiful deep red. It has so much surface area that I think it would work really well. Has anybody out there tried this before?

[nbku3vm]

Also, how long does regular docor rock take to become live rock in an established marine aquarium?

[chrisdef15]

Do you know if it would leech anything into the water? Real live rock is better because it would help to buffer your PH but if the lava rock isnt going to lower your PH or leach anything into the water then it should be fine. It would probably take 6 weeks or so to start helping biologically but it would take a year or more before it looked like good quality live rock. The more real live rock you mix with it the quicker it will be.

[Oddball]

It's possible to get lava rock to culture with organisms in an aquarium but may not be cost effective in the long run. SW organisms utilize calcium within the limestone or coral base rock to build their own colonial cells, tubes, trackways, etc. These minerals and elements would have to be constantly added to the tank to get them the basics needed to colonize on lavarock. And, it still may not work if the lava rock leeches any acidity into the tank.
Before trying, fill a bucket with water and test the pH. Then add pieces of lavarock in close to the proportions you'd have in the tank. Test the water periodically over the next month to see if there's a significant drop in pH or if the lavarock has no appreciable effect on pH.
If the pH factor turns out OK and you decide to proceed with lava rock, you'll still need a substrate of crushed coral and/or aragonite. Regular dosing with trace elements will also be needed. Then, a couple of pieces of actual live rock will be needed to seed your system with organisms.
Sounds like an interesting experiment and possible alternative to stripping coastal waters of live rock. Keep us posted.

[nbku3vm]

If I were to use this it would be used soley for base rock. I have a 150gallon freshwater tank now that when I move in december I'm going to set up a reef tank. I will soon have a mortgage so I definatly will not have a couple of $G's to spend on live rock to make a nice wall 72" x 24". PH levels have been consistant for a week now. I have about 30 lbs in an old 20 gallon with an old ac 70 I had layin around. I did a 10% water change to simulate it in an salt environment and the water is still on the hard side. I'll keep you all posted.

If the PH levels stay put. I'll try a 4in deep live sand bed with some cured live rock from my LFS. If all is well by december I will have a 20 gallon full of tonga live rock and lava live rock. should be a nice cheap start to a great reef aqarium! It would be freaking awesome if I could grow my own live base rock!!!!!!

[AquataHolic420]

its going to be a long process to use the lava rock and transform it into a live rock.... i would use lava rock as base rock, and add 1 and half times more live rock from a store... its going to take along time for the rock to be ready. Good luck

[Redtail_Watcher]

Also, how long does regular docor rock take to become live rock in an established marine aquarium?

it takes about 1 1/2 year to be establish in a marine tank

[pete620]

I've read on reefcentral.com that lava rock is a bad idea because it can leach silicates into the water.

[nbku3vm]

I've read on reefcentral.com that lava rock is a bad idea because it can leach silicates into the water.

I thought that silicates were insoluable in water? just like silicon sand

[pete620]

I don't know the chemistry behind it, but I do know silicates are bad for reefs. Next time you go to a fish store look at phosphate removers, most say they also remove silicates.

[ecajoe]

when you buy culterd live rock from florida it is lava rock they put it out there for 2 years i would just buy live rock

[pete620]

Most live, and lace rock is lime based. I am unsure of its exact makeup though. The lava rock the origanal poster is laking about is scouria, and it is far different than any rock used for aquacalture.

[teguc1]

I had the same idea. Then my genius wife said "well what are the reefs in Hawaii made of, aren't the islands just huge volcanic flows?" And it clicked. I threw some of my lava rock into my sump with some chunks of live rock, and in about 4 months I had stuff starting to grow on it. I have lava beds nearby and we make trips up to them every year. My freshwater tank is filled with Lava rock, and I will use it again