Coconut frag rock

[D’orlissimo]

Hi everyone, I’m new to salt and cannot find any informed answers

I’ve made a coconut frag rock/rack, I’m hoping to grow my Zoas of the plug and cover the shell. Hopefully will be a home to my goby also.

my question is why does nobody else do this?

I seasoned the shell in my freshwater tank first. I also did a test with a small bit of shell by placing it in the sump after being seasoned and after a month I saw no difference. The clarity of my water is still very clear and they are used in freshwater all the time.
I saw somewhere someone said not too as they breakdown and release calcium but wouldn’t that be a good thing for corals?

anyone have any explanations?

Orlin

 

[MnFish1]

Think it would depend on the size of the shell and the size of the tank - but - wouldn't a rock be easier (with a hole drilled?) I believe it will release much more than calcium over time

 

[D’orlissimo]

Coconuts are easy to get hold of, easy to drill, cheap, make good caves for fish to hide. I think they look quite natural and as I said before it’s done a lot in freshwater, why not In salt?

do you know what else it could release?

 

[MnFish1]

Coconuts are easy to get hold of, easy to drill, cheap, make good caves for fish to hide. I think they look quite natural and as I said before it’s done a lot in freshwater, why not In salt?

do you know what else it could release?

Organics. There is also no shortage out there of calcareous rock - that does not need to be replaced - is safe - and there is no question. I dont know what coconut shells are exposed to - you asked an opinion - the likelyhood is that they are fine - but - to a degree its the same reason we don't put driftwood pieces for frags in the tank - even though - they Line the beaches on much of the coast.

 

[MnFish1]

Actually there are a number of articles out there suggesting that they are not recommended for a saltwater tank - due to tannins.

 

[D’orlissimo]

Thanks for the reply’s, I’ve known about tannins as they come up in the freshwater chats but as far as I can tell they can just discolour the water, which it has not done so far.

there’s a video of clownfish moving a coconut and thought that’s cool, why not try coconut.

if I lived close to the sea I probably would have tried putting in drift wood.

thanks again for you reply’s

 

[MnFish1]

Thanks for the reply’s, I’ve known about tannins as they come up in the freshwater chats but as far as I can tell they can just discolour the water, which it has not done so far.

there’s a video of clownfish moving a coconut and thought that’s cool, why not try coconut.

if I lived close to the sea I probably would have tried putting in drift wood.

thanks again for you reply’s

Yes - there is no doubt that fish use them in the ocean. If you had a large enough tank - and a small coconut shell it would probably be fine.