tharbin
5000 Club Member
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2021
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I watched that video. I think most of us will agree that the manufactured rock, in general, looks wonderful. What I don't read in these reviews is whether or not it is actually good for your tank and how good a medium for bacterial filtration it provides.
One of the tests I have seen on some of the bio-media products is porosity or surface area tests based on how much water they can absorb or pass through. The idea being that the more they can absorb the more surface area they have for bacterial habitation. I would like to see those tests for manufactured rock.
Where I think most of the manufactured rock is lacking is porosity. The structure of most reef rubble or rock (including quarried rock) is a matrix laid down originally by living organisms. Most, if not all, manufactured rock is made like a batter and formed. Until they can make the batter like a nice fluffy pancake--full of little air pockets (including the surface coating) it will be less porous than other rock types. Looks should always be secondary to function when it comes to aquarium rock. I wish I had known the limitations of manufactured rock before I invested in it.
That said, the manufactured rock today is light-years better than any 'fake' rock we had even ten years ago. It looks good and, once suitably seasoned, works fairly well. I really would like to try a piece of the cornerstone rock. There must be some reason it is so much lighter than most of the others.
Talking about that pancake has made me very hungry. Time for breakfast. Later.
One of the tests I have seen on some of the bio-media products is porosity or surface area tests based on how much water they can absorb or pass through. The idea being that the more they can absorb the more surface area they have for bacterial habitation. I would like to see those tests for manufactured rock.
Where I think most of the manufactured rock is lacking is porosity. The structure of most reef rubble or rock (including quarried rock) is a matrix laid down originally by living organisms. Most, if not all, manufactured rock is made like a batter and formed. Until they can make the batter like a nice fluffy pancake--full of little air pockets (including the surface coating) it will be less porous than other rock types. Looks should always be secondary to function when it comes to aquarium rock. I wish I had known the limitations of manufactured rock before I invested in it.
That said, the manufactured rock today is light-years better than any 'fake' rock we had even ten years ago. It looks good and, once suitably seasoned, works fairly well. I really would like to try a piece of the cornerstone rock. There must be some reason it is so much lighter than most of the others.
Talking about that pancake has made me very hungry. Time for breakfast. Later.
