Limestone Dead Rock

[curtis_rachel]

While at our inlaws, we came across some beautiful limestone on their mountain. We would like to put in our FOWLR tank -- it would add height and has a lot of holes for hiding. Is there anything we should do to it before adding it, aside from cleaning it? Is it safe to put it in?

THANKS!!!

[CSeaSee]

If it's just limestone, I can't think of any reason not to, but I don't have a lot of experience with dead rock... maybe someone else can chime in here? I guess make sure there are no terrestrial critters in the holes...

[Peterock]

Before adding any wild rock to a tank you should first soak the rock that you want to use in the tank in a 5 gallon bucket of RO/DI over night then test that water in the bucket for all levels. PHOS, Silicate, Ma, Copper, Stronium, Iodine. Seems like a lot but if you dont know whats in it then its worth it. So if you have good test then go ahead and use it all. (Put the whole damn mountain in your tank)The main thing you want to know is will the rock leatch out silicates, and phos.

[TheMarineGuy]

i would do the same with the bucket.....but you also want too rub the rock too see if the limestone begins too flake or kinda have a "mud" slime coming off it....if thats the case id say no way,but if its not "muddy" and does not cloud the water i think it should be fine....

[Steve McKay]

While at our inlaws, we came across some beautiful limestone on their mountain. We would like to put in our FOWLR tank -- it would add height and has a lot of holes for hiding. Is there anything we should do to it before adding it, aside from cleaning it? Is it safe to put it in?

THANKS!!!

You will want to soak it in a plastic container of ro/di or distilled water for at least a week, two would be better. That will be enough time for all the critters in the rock to die off or leave. At the same time scrub the rock until all the debris is gone. Then test the water for ammonia and nitrite as you would for store bought LR, it also wouldn't hurt to test for copper and silica if you have the test kits. After you test the water if the ammonia and nitrite levels are zero it would be safe to put it in your tank. If not zero wait a week and test again.

[leebca]

Unfortunately, limestone is a soft rock and may contain a significant number and quantity of impurities that may kill marine lifeforms in the short time; or slowly kill them over time. It usually isn't worth the risk.

Although the basic composition of limestone is attractive for use, land limestone can contain other ingredients, as varying amounts of clay, silt and sand sized terrestrial detritus carried in by rivers (there today or present thousands to tens of thousands of years ago).

No amount of soaking will guarantee that poisons will be removed. Keep in mind that the hobbyist doesn't test for all possible sources of pollution, contaminants, or ingredients, making the use of 'wild' limestone a gamble regardless of the precaution(s) taken.

[Steve McKay]

Unfortunately, limestone is a soft rock and may contain a significant number and quantity of impurities that may kill marine lifeforms in the short time; or slowly kill them over time. It usually isn't worth the risk.

Although the basic composition of limestone is attractive for use, land limestone can contain other ingredients, as varying amounts of clay, silt and sand sized terrestrial detritus carried in by rivers (there today or present thousands to tens of thousands of years ago).

No amount of soaking will guarantee that poisons will be removed. Keep in mind that the hobbyist doesn't test for all possible sources of pollution, contaminants, or ingredients, making the use of 'wild' limestone a gamble regardless of the precaution(s) taken.

I see your point but isn't there a lot of limestone rock that was quarried and sold as dry LR.

[Parrothead]

Anybody but me notice that this thread is 5 years old?

[Steve McKay]

Anybody but me notice that this thread is 5 years old?

No, I guess not.

[leebca]

I'll close this thread once it seems we're done with it. It is/was an old thread that wasn't really hashed out.

You are partly correct, Steve. Dead or dry rock is not 'live' rock. This is a good post on some of the terminology and advantages/disadvantages to live rock: What is Live Rock, Anyway?

In the 1970's and 80's hobbyists were wondering why their marine life was dying off. One thing some of them had in common was using land limestone. There is a risk, but the level of risk depends on origin. It was recommended back then to switch to dead coral or rock taken from the sea (live or not) rather than land (exceptions being 'glass' rocks). After that, decorations moved toward artificial corals and rocks, or live rock, or live rock combined with 'dead rock/corals' but rock coming out from the sea/oceans.

I was one of the people using land limestone in the '70's in a single tank and had difficulty getting inverts to last very long in that tank. Other tanks of mine with dead coral seemed to work better. Not able to say for sure, but the problem seemed to be the choice in rock. Nothing I analyzed for would settle the issue.

I think now, if the hobbyist doesn't mind the risk and will follow these guidelines: Setting Up a FOWLR Aquarium requiring a slow, methodical approach, then if something is wrong with the rock, it should show itself before the more sensitive marine lifeforms are introduced.

For me, with the expense, time input, and so many other things that can go wrong in this hobby, the risk isn't worth it.

[Parrothead]

Hey Lee,

Since I had to go and stick my nose in here this morning, I figured I needed to add my 2 cents worth,

you are right, alot of it depends on where the lime rock comes from, here in florida it is mined in the same area's where they mine phosphates(we do our best to keep phosphates low to none in our tanks), most of the aquacultured rock coming out of florida was limestone prior to being dropped off the coast on a rock farm, I had a very bad experience last summer and fall with this rock, bad enough I dumped it all and am rebuilding with south pac. rock, if the limestone came out of florida, odds are good, very good it will have a high level of phosphate in it, and it will leach into the tank and cause all sorts of problems, the other major draw back is the stuff is cement, I and others feel it is too dense to be of any real use in the aquarium. JMHO

[Steve McKay]

Thanks for the info Lee and Parrot.

[leebca]

You're welcome!