Texas holey rock in freshwater?

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C

carsona246

Gambusia
MFK Member
Feb 12, 2009
553
2
18
Arkansas
Hey just wondering if anyone has ever tried to use live rock in freshwater. I fully understand that in saltwater live rock consists of far more than anaerobic bacteria, but would keeping some form of rock in freshwater create anaerobic bacteria that converted nitrate to nitrogen? I've always wondered and am considering finding some texas holey rock to put in my convict breeding tank to test it out. I'm assuming someone on MFK has tried this though, and I just can't find the thread.
Just want to clarify before I have people repeatedly telling me I can't use saltwater rock in freshwater. I'm discussing keeping any porous rock/material in a freshwater tank for the purpose of cultivating anaerobic bacteria to lower nitrates.
 
There is a difference between Texas Holey rock and live rock found in saltwater aquariums.
 
Any porous rock that might restricts the flow of oxygen?
What if you got base rock and soaked it in freshwater for a while? Could that work? I realize it would probably raise the water hardness/ph but that might not be such a bad thing depending on the stock/tap water.
 
From what I've read about Texas holey rock, when used in freshwater tanks; it's usually to buffer (raise) Ph for African setups. As far as ca/sa cichlids like convicts are concerned, people usually use driftwood to buffer in the opposite direction (lower).

If you are wanting a porous stone that you can use in your setup without affecting Ph you may look into lava rock.
 
I'm mainly inquiring on the possibility of using porous rock to lower nitrates like it is done in saltwater. I've heard lava rock is not very effective. Has anyone used porous stone to cultivate anaerobic bacteria?
 
If its to keep parameters in check, i would consider upgrading the filtration, rocks may only help a little bit unless the tank was covered in it ;)


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Look I'm just wondering if it's possible to convert nitrate to nitrogen using anaerobic bacteria in porous rocks. This thread is not about my tanks in particular, or adding decoration.
Adding rocks could potentially reduce nitrate if it's possible to cultivate anaerobic bacteria in freshwater porous rock like they do in saltwater. This is similar to the idea behind a freshwater dsb. If a freshwater dsb is possible, wouldn't using porous rock to cultivate anaerobic bacteria be possible in a freshwater tank?
I would really appreciate it if people actually read my first post before commenting, very few people have contributed anything that is remotely relevant to my original question.
 
If what you are looking for would work, you would assume that someone keeping african cichlids in a tank loaded with holey rock would have no nitrates. Well that just doesn't happen. Nitrates are the end product of biological filtration. Without doing water changes nitrates will build up. Sorry to burst your bubble, but adding holey rock to a tank will not be a substitute for water changes.
 
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