Coral Skeletons

[FishMann]

Should I do anything besides rinse the dust off of them before adding them to my tank?

I have been lugging these things around for 19 years to five different residences and will finally be putting some of them to use. These are some of the pieces from my father's tanks dating back to the early 90s. I haven't looked in these boxes in years and now that I have I am excited to use them along with live rock to make some nice shelves, nooks and crannies.

The two huge pieces are far too large and would stick out of my tank. I'm not really sure what to do with them.

 

[Uncle99]

If there going in a running system, yup, I would rinse well.
Then I might put them in a tote for a week or so with some bottled bacteria, heat and flow.
Longer is always better.

Then put in the tank. This way, they get a jump start.

 

[wvned]

Depending on tank parameters like pH and alk they may slowly dissolve some. I would not use any you want to remain intact.

 

[FishMann]

If there going in a running system, yup, I would rinse well.
Then I might put them in a tote for a week or so with some bottled bacteria, heat and flow.
Longer is always better.

Then put in the tank. This way, they get a jump start.

I only plan on using two, maybe three of these pieces. I'd imagine at least 95% of rock will be tbs and or kp. I also plan to incorporate some tbs sand along with the dry. Tank should be here next month.

Depending on tank parameters like pH and alk they may slowly dissolve some. I would not use any you want to remain intact.

Interesting. I'm not too concerned with this outcome as long as it is a slow process and wont wreck my scape. As they break down, what is being added to the tank? Ca?

 

[wvned]

I only plan on using two, maybe three of these pieces. I'd imagine at least 95% of rock will be tbs and or kp. I also plan to incorporate some tbs sand along with the dry. Tank should be here next month.


Interesting. I'm not too concerned with this outcome as long as it is a slow process and wont wreck my scape. As they break down, what is being added to the tank? Ca?

They become part of the buffering system of the tank. They are made of calcium carbonate with trace elements in sea water when they grew. It's why they run calcium reactors with them.