lava rock sump
- Thread starter gquimby1
- Start date
AlSimmons
New member
You can, but if biological filtration is what your after you would be much better off going with either live rock or dead rock. The porosity alone just makes them much more efficient at filtering the water than those bio balls or lava rock would be.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rs/feature/index.php
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rs/feature/index.php
No, lava rock will leach a multitude of metals and other elements into your system. There are some that can be used but you will have difficulty determining what ones are safe.
This! Never use lava rock in a saltwater aquarium.
AlSimmons
New member
What about all the people out there who have used lava rocks in there tanks for years on end and have never had any problems? IMO saying you can't use lava rock is like saying you can't have an emerald crab in your tank or a peppermint shrimp. Lot's of horror stories out there regarding these things, but lot's of success stories too. Also, not all lava rock is the same. Grouping it all together and saying it's bad would not be accurate.
Here's a video I found where lava rocks are being used in the aquarium. I believe the anemone itself is attached to one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugVktUZV-bE&feature=youtu.be
Here's a video I found where lava rocks are being used in the aquarium. I believe the anemone itself is attached to one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugVktUZV-bE&feature=youtu.be
Last edited:
zeemofree
In Memoriam
If you don't know what live rock is I recommend you study a lot more before you screw up
billdogg
Well-known member
If it is natural lava rock (pumice) then it may be ok. I used a large piece of pumice as the only rock in my 60 cube for all 22 years it was up and running. I chose it because it was easy to carve into a reef type scene with swim throughs and caves. Man-made "lava" rock (the dense orange colored stuff) is not porous at all so will have little positive effect on the biological filtration capacity of the tank, and as mentioned may very well contain heavy metals or other nasty contaminates.
scooter31707
New member
I think you may need to read the OP's question again and get an understanding.
Lava rock is often air-puffed basalt scoria or rhyolite (I think that's the red one) which have metals in them you don't want.
Pumice, (easy to distinguish because it's light as styrofoam) is volcanic glass puffed up by air, similar to obsidian, which is the plain form. I wouldn't expect either pumice or obsidian to be all that reactive in water. But I are not a geologist!
Pumice, (easy to distinguish because it's light as styrofoam) is volcanic glass puffed up by air, similar to obsidian, which is the plain form. I wouldn't expect either pumice or obsidian to be all that reactive in water. But I are not a geologist!
