We aren't arguing the success we are telling you volcanic can be full of metals and some can be very harmful to reefs.
Out of genuine curiosity- do you or anyone else have examples of lava rock actually crashing a reef (i.e. causing things to die)? The only examples I've ever been able to find of it being associated with crashes had a ton of different factors that could have caused them.
Black sand. My understanding is that balck sand is crushed lava rock.*has nightmarish flashback
I will NEVER use black sand again. Way too much money down the drain and lots of thinking I was killing corals due to poor reef keeping. I had the Caribsea Naturals Tahitian Moon sand. It was a fine grain sand that was advertised as "safe for salt water."
After lots and lots of unexplained coral death, and a very bad reaction to H202(all zoas melted in hours), I sent off an ICP test and it came back with over 2000ppm Vanadium and over 500ppm Nickel, we(forum thread followers) started looking for sources of metal. After checking all pumps and plumbing and coming up with nothing, I decided to drag a magnet thru the sand to check for any screws or a razor blade... anything I may have dropped and not realized. After a few passes I pulled the magnet out and found it covered in sand. Not every particle stuck, but some did. It surprised me, because I tested it with a magnet thru the bag and I couldn't see anything wanting to stick, and nothing stuck to my tank cleaner magnets.
This is when Brew generously offered to scan a sample under a very powerful electron microscope. The scan found very small traces of vanadium, and larger visible deposits of nickel. I later learned that vanadium is very easily dissolved in salt water, so that's why that level was the highest on the ICP test and why there was only trace amounts left in the sample tested under the microscope.
We also scanned a sample of the Hawaiian black, and it also contained metals, but iron was the main offender there.
Here is a link to my thread where the problem was solved.
ATI results back, sources of vanadium?
I received my ATI ICP test results and I have extremely high vanadium and nickel. What could possibly be the cause of these metals in the tank, specifically vanadium. I am unable to keep SPS alive for more than a few weeks before they completely STN. All magnets, pumps and powerheads have been...www.reef2reef.com
Ah, yeah, sorry, I should have specified; the black sand I've seen examples for, I was asking about the lava rock specifically.
My understanding is that black sand is crushed lava rock. It also could be that not many use lava rock for scape.
Yeah, I've only seen a handful of tanks with lava rock, but I do know a lot of people are warned away from it, so I'm curious if there's a widespread problem with the use of lava rock, or if it's an occasional/rare issue.
I'm not so sure black sand isn't just an occasional issue.
Yeah, the black sand seems to have a noticeable pattern of causing problems.
Let me suggest that you avoid pumice if you decide to do this.
You should start your own thread, but in short, I would put all the old rock in a new brute can from Home Depot, fill it with fresh water and let it sit a few days and then test for phosphate and Copper. Copper can be removed with Cuprasorb if it is high, and phosphate can be removed with lanthanum chloride if it is high.Since we are talking rock and there's a little bit of an audience, can someone give me advice? I'm gonna steer away from the lava rock cause it scares me...I bought 30lbs of "dry rock"/ "Coral" from a guy that had it years ago in his tank. I'm also gonna buy 40lbs of wet live rock from my lfs (wife approved) lol. Couple questions,
1- how should I clean the dry rock/coral before going in the tank? Bleach or just water?
2- I bought 2 bags of live caribsand and also "one and only" and "ammonium chloride". Do I cycle with the chemicals/sand or put all wet live rock and dry rock in to let cycle without chemicals?
Sorry I'm super new and trying to learn as much as possible. I'll attach photos of dry rock/coral and what I bought from Amazon to give you idea on what my whole setup will be. I know I should use local fish store but I'm trying to "ball on a budget". Thank you everyone!
That doesn't need to be cycled, but rinse the old rock and sand and test for phosphate (and copper?)
FOrgot to mention, return the Brute after you rinse it and if you don't keep it to make more saltwater.
