lava rocks?

[lipadj46]

Wouldn't lava rock raise the hardness of the water in the tank?

No it doesn't have carbonates in it.

 

[Jc1119]

Wouldn't lava rock raise the hardness of the water in the tank? I would test it with vinegar to be sure first unless ur trying to keep africans.

Also about that list, is matala sponges? If so how come different color makes a difference in surface area?

I don't think so, but i use tons of broken up limestone in one of my canisters on my mbuna setup. Provides surface area for bio and buffers the tank at the same time.

 

[alexanian]

hmmm ok maybe i had it mixed up with limestone then.... anyone has info on why different color sponge has different surface area?

 

[lipadj46]

hmmm ok maybe i had it mixed up with limestone then.... anyone has info on why different color sponge has different surface area?

they are coarse, fine, medium sponges

 

[Jc1119]

^^ the whites are usually there micro filtration style pads working back towards the blacks which are coarse

 

[alexanian]

Oh ok so they color them according to coarsness. So a regular sponge would be the same regardless of color.

 

[Lgsasquatch]

So i could use the lava rock in the tank as decor with a powerhead pusing water over them to help filter the tank, kind of like live rock in the salt water tanks?

 

[boldtogether]

So i could use the lava rock in the tank as decor with a powerhead pusing water over them to help filter the tank, kind of like live rock in the salt water tanks?

Kinda. The difference being that live rock is more of an eco system rather than a colony of bacteria.
Dont forget that beneficial bacteria is everywhere in your tank, not just the bio-whatever you have. It will grow everywhere in your tank, even on slow-moving inhabitants like snails and turtles. One should always be mindful of this when they decide to aggressivly clean a tank.
Lava rock, I have found, is better in smaller pieces and should be contained in a media bag or some sort of container that will allow flow to pass around the rock. The more the rock is allowed to bang and tumble into itself the more debris it creates.

 

[HackJob]

So i could use the lava rock in the tank as decor with a powerhead pusing water over them to help filter the tank, kind of like live rock in the salt water tanks?

you also run the risk of fish getting smashed into the lava rock. Cuts and fin damage can occur, and anything getting blasted into that rock is going to be cut to shreds ie poops and what not, I bet it would look like TP streamers coming off a tree. On second thought do it and take pics!

 

[ChiPerf]

I stuffed a bunch of lava rock in my sump as a cheaper alternative. We'll see how it goes, but not too much silt from them yet.