Limestone

[Little_Aquarist]

Hey guys. Just wondering if limestone that I can acquire myself is okay to put in my tank (after powerwashing and using wire brushes)?
I would be getting it from my ranch (Florence, Texas)

LMK. Thanks

Posted via Mobile Device

[Ninong]

I wouldn't but that's up to you. The risk with limestone is that over the ages it can become contaminated with other things. You will have to be the judge of that risk because you're the one looking at the limestone and holding it in your hands.

[returnofsid]

I've used Tufa stone in my reef tanks. It quickly became live rock. Tufa Stone is ancient live rock though. It even had fossils of small bi-valves in it. Not sure about the Limestone though. From what I've experienced with Limestone, in African Cichlid tanks, it's not very porous.

[Ninong]

Most limestone is quite dense. A lot depends on where you get it. There is some limestone near the surface in places like Haiti that is better for a reef aquarium than older limestone in other parts of the world. The limestone near the surface in Florida, for example, is probably younger than the limestone in central Texas. This is what they dig up and dump into the Gulf of Mexico to turn into aquacultured live rock.

It would be okay to use some limestone as base rock to save a few bucks as long as you realize that it is not entirely risk-free. The Earth's crust is constantly in motion and over millions of years (even thousands of years) things get mixed.

[Ninong]

I would be getting it from my ranch (Florence, Texas)

I spent quite a bit of time very near there in the 1950's -- Ft. Hood.

[Little_Aquarist]

Most limestone is quite dense. A lot depends on where you get it. There is some limestone near the surface in places like Haiti that is better for a reef aquarium than older limestone in other parts of the world. The limestone near the surface in Florida, for example, is probably younger than the limestone in central Texas. This is what they dig up and dump into the Gulf of Mexico to turn into aquacultured live rock.

It would be okay to use some limestone as base rock to save a few bucks as long as you realize that it is not entirely risk-free. The Earth's crust is constantly in motion and over millions of years (even thousands of years) things get mixed.

What about limestone acquired from one of my lfs?


Posted via Mobile Device

[Ninong]

What about limestone acquired from one of my lfs?


Posted via Mobile Device

Is it free? If not, why would you even consider it?

[metalhead]

I wouldn't risk it... If you do, the limestone will be suspect every time you have a problem with water params, and if you're using it for base rock you'll have to tear everything apart to get it out. I've found so far that one less thing to worry about in this hobby is usually well worth the extra cost if there is any.