arkansas fieldstone

[dolphinman213]

i have a lot of arkansas fieldstone that have been in my african cichlid for some time--in the process of converting from 2 african cichlid tanks to one--my question is, will using fieldstone in my saltwater reef tank as a base (with the live rock on top) do any damage to my reef--is it safe to use

 

[dolphinman213]

can anyone help me out with this question?

 

[Rendos]

Personally I would not use it. Just like I wouldn't feed tangs lettuce or broccoli when I can just as easily give them nori...which actually comes from the sea. It may not have any ill effects, but I would not risk it. Just my $.04 (inflation, you know).

 

[crpeck]

I've always been afraid to use "landlocked" rock in a salt tank. I have no evidence and haven't even read any expert that said not to so it may be complete paranoia.

My concern has been the potential of metals and minerals that might interact badly with salt water. For example ... think of how you can drag a magnet through dirt and pick up iron shavings. There clearly is more iron in some rock onland that would have rusted out oxidized long ago in salt water.

Any interactions between metals in land rocks and saltwater is going to be magnified in an aquarium.

You could also make the case that all land was covered in ocean eons ago so there is no problem.

Bottom line ... I don't know but it would worry me. But then I worry easily.

Let us know if you try it.

:rollface: