[blooper74]

I am not sure if this is the place for this, but I had to start somewhere. I am going to be doing a 90gal. soon and wanted to know if I can use limestone as a base for my reef? I want to fill the tank with the limestone and then seed it in areas with high quality live rock. If I cannot use limestone, is there any other rock that I could use for this instead of buying base live rock from an LFS or online dealer?

I am trying to save some money in the rock area. I am not in a hurry to stock the tank, so seeding will be fine for the tank for now. Let me know if you can someone, so I can start getting my rock together.

Thanks.

[leebca]

Hi Guy (again)!

Limestone often contains metals, especially heavy metals. The content of limestone is dependent upon the area it comes from. I would not use it unless you have obtained a chemical analysis of it (to verify its content).

Some rock information: What is Live Rock, Anyway?

Some land sources of (ancient) ocean rock is about the least expensive I've seen around. You would have to clean off the lichen and land dirt from it (Muriatic Acid does the best). But it will only 'grow' what settles on it (e.g., coralline algae, bacteria, etc.). I'd stick with carbonate-based rocks, unless you'd like to make your own: diy reef rocks(dont place in oven) TOTW 6-29-06

[blooper74]

Where might I find carbonate-based rocks?
Thanks.
Pat

[leebca]

You might want to call around your area, to various LFSs. Ask them if they have base rock (with no life on it) available. The last time I saw a large stock of it (crates) was in Phoenix about four years ago.

[Ninong]

Some people have used limestone. Some people have even used marble. Both limestone and marble are CaCO3 (calcium carbonate), the same as live rock. Limestone is calcium carbonate in the calcite crystalline form. Aragonite is calcium carbonate in the aragonite crystalline form. Aragonite will eventually turn into calcite over a long period of time. And some limestone will morph into marble over a long period of time.

It all comes from the same source: marine organisms, mainly hard coral. The difference is time, often tens of millions of years or more.

People dig up limestone in Haiti and in Florida all the time and then dump it in the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean and let it sit for 18-24 months before taking it out and calling it aquacultured live rock. That's why Gulf of Mexico aquacultured live rock is so dense. It starts out as inland limestone. However, the limestone in Florida and Haiti is relatively recent, geologically speaking.

If you're very careful about your limestone, I guess it would be safe to use. However, as Lee has already pointed it, it will often contain impurities. This is because of tectonic action over thousands, hundreds of thousands and millions of years. Things get scrambled up over time.

Check out what Wikipedia has to say about limestone.

In short, I agree with Lee, I would avoid using limestone. However, European reef hobbyists often use it because good live rock is much more expensive over there.

[fish outa wata]

where abouts do you live? they sell base rock at store by me Gatewayaquatics.com in St.louis for about $2.50/lb I can't recall where it's from, fiji is $4-5 depending on what week. Also Premium Aquatics INC - live rock and aquarium supply in Indiana has a great reputation. Hope you find something.