Stone

[Atari]

It makes a big difference, ask anyone who doesnt use a carbonate based substrate/rock about pH problems.

 

[Biggen]

It makes a big difference, ask anyone who doesnt use a carbonate based substrate/rock about pH problems

Really? I know several who don't use LR at all and experience no problem...

 

[Atari]

It doesnt have to be LR.. any carbonate based rock or cc/aragonite sand will go a long way to buffer pH.

But I don't see how if you have silica sand and non-carbonate rock you can possibly keep pH up for any length of time without adding buffer.

 

[Biggen]

But I don't see how if you have silica sand and non-carbonate rock you can possibly keep pH up for any length of time without adding buffer

Water changes do a lot of the work in a low Alk/Ca demanding tank (non reefs). Reefs, obviously, do require buffer to be added.

 

[Atari]

I just remember someone who had all fake stuff in his tank and he couldn't keep his pH above 8.0 for more than 3 days after a water change. It gets expensive adding buffer everyday.. I'm so glad LR is readily available now, it's made such a big difference to this hobby.

 

[Atari]

Oops.. sorry to hijack your thread, Mark!

 

[Biggen]

I'm so glad LR is readily available now, it's made such a big difference to this hobby.

No argument from me here. Its great!

FWIW, I agree that it is best to have a CaCO3 based system. All I was saying is that I have seen it done without. Obviously with success (as I have mentioned) and failures (as you have mentioned).

 

[MarkW19]

So, should I put it in or not guys??

 

[Atari]

Is it a solid chunk of stone or is it porous?

 

[MarkW19]

Fairly solid.

 

[Atari]

No holes? Based on this topic so far I guess it doesn't seem worth the risk.. why didn't you ask them if it was reef rock?

 

[MarkW19]

There are a few holes! I'll take a pic tomorrow.

 

[srgetz]

do you mean rock like this? http://www.hirocks.com/Photo_Gallery.html

basically dry base rock, my lfs sells it also as "coral rock" for like $1 per lb.

it is very safe for your marine system, calcium carbonate based rock...

 

[MarkW19]

It's a bit different! I'll take a pic.