Strange Rock, Possible Poison?

[Mastiffsrule]

There appears to be writing below the numbers partially covered, just curious

I would also get a poly filter as mention if possible

 

[sstanley223]

That’s bad..unless your really strong! That piece almost looks like some kind of plate

How about a recycled brick? Bogus whatever it is

 

[cracker]

That is a mystery to me ! The numbered piece doesn't look like it belongs to the rest of the rock . Almost like it was wedged into it or Something.

 

[HumuhumuFan]

Put a magnet on it.

I tried that, it did not react to it.

 

[HumuhumuFan]

Is there any black spots that was on the inside of the rock?

#reefsquad

Like that?

 

[Flippers4pups]

Some big water changes, GAC....as others have stated.

Why would Petco use man made rock, is the question I have?

The materials and time to make it. Must have been a "contractor" job for them.

@HumuhumuFan, thank you for posting this! Sorry this happened to you!

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Any bad smell to rock? Besides normal fish smell

 

[HumuhumuFan]

Any bad smell to rock? Besides normal fish smell

Pretty standard rock that has been in a saltwater tank smell.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

My suggestion, Check you other petco peice. See if it is the same, I would pitch them both if you can, as long as it is not gonna take down you biological filter. Run carbon and a chemi pure or pad
Water change and keep an eye on ammonia just to be sure since pulling out rock

 

[Scotty Buttons]

I tried that, it did not react to it.

Not all metal is Ferrous

 

[Dolelo96]

It looks like something that was just tossed in while they were “making” it. It definitely is man made

 

[Flippers4pups]

Like that?

When In doubt, pitch it out!

 

[HumuhumuFan]

My suggestion, Check you other petco peice. See if it is the same, I would pitch them both if you can, as long as it is not gonna take down you biological filter. Run carbon and a chemi pure or pad
Water change and keep an eye on ammonia just to be sure since pulling out rock

I'm not 100% certain it was from Petco, it may have been from a LFS that is no longer around. It's tough to remember it was 5 years ago. I have 2 pieces I 100% know are from Petco, and I think I will remove them also now that I know that they are manufactured.

My bio filter should be fine, there's at least 55 lbs. of other rock plus the sand bed. I'm running carbon already since I dosed PraziPro recently. I think I have some Purigen somewhere and I will order some Poly filter.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

@saltyfilmfolks @Randy Holmes-Farley What would you do?

Not freak out.
Manmade rock is common. But so is aquaculture particularly in Florida back in the day as real live rock (as well as mined )rocks may have been tagged then set in the ocean lagoon to cure cycle get bugs corals etc.
so it may just be part of the manufacture.
They literally took rock and dumped it in permitted areas to become live.

@Dana Riddle as an experienced reefer, have you perhaps seen this tag on the rock?


As far as the shiney quartz looking stuff. Mined live rock , aragonite , still is is dead coral skeleton and being mined it’s not 100 years old nor 1,000. It can be millions depending on the vein being mined.
One of my rocks is coated in normal soft looking aragonite and running through it are stag horn corals that have been “petrified” and have become Chrystals. (Yea, bloody cool right)

I was able to do this just with my bare hands, which is a little crazy.

 

[HumuhumuFan]

Not freak out.
Manmade rock is common. But so is aquaculture particularly in Florida back in the day as real live rock (as well as mined )rocks may have been tagged then set in the ocean lagoon to cure cycle get bugs corals etc.
so it may just be part of the manufacture.
They literally took rock and dumped it in permitted areas to become live.

@Dana Riddle as an experienced reefer, have you perhaps seen this tag on the rock?


As far as the shiney quartz looking stuff. Mined live rock , aragonite , still is is dead coral skeleton and being mined it’s not 100 years old nor 1,000. It can be millions depending on the vein being mined.
One of my rocks is coated in normal soft looking aragonite and running through it are stag horn corals that have been “petrified” and have become Chrystals. (Yea, bloody cool right)

Thanks, that’s reassuring. I’ll proceed with my mitigation plan just in case and monitor the situation. I’ll probably still remove the other 2 man made rocks anyways.

 

[Dana Riddle]

I have not seen markings shown in the photo but my experiences with dead rock is limited. It appears the marking might be a mold number. As for concrete, the Waikiki Aquarium used concrete blocks in some of their aquarium and it wasn't a problem as long as it was properly cured. GARF 'rock' is concrete-based as well. The black coatings do concern me though - it appears it is Halichrondia okadai. These sponges are known to produce toxins (okadaic acid) and have produced mortalities in mice (192 micrograms/kg). Death was due to severe diarrhea - I am not at all sure if the same occurs in fishes. These sponges apparently take some time to establish themselves as we saw them grow in systems where nothing had been added in 18 months. We never tried to remove it since we weren't seeing any problems and the systems were about 1,500 gallons each with low fish loading (one or two very fat tangs.)

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I have not seen markings shown in the photo but my experiences with dead rock is limited. It appears the marking might be a mold number. As for concrete, the Waikiki Aquarium used concrete blocks in some of their aquarium and it wasn't a problem as long as it was properly cured. GARF 'rock' is concrete-based as well. The black coatings do concern me though - it appears it is Halichrondia okadai. These sponges are known to produce toxins (okadaic acid) and have produced mortalities in mice (192 micrograms/kg). Death was due to severe diarrhea - I am not at all sure if the same occurs in fishes. These sponges apparently take some time to establish themselves as we saw them grow in systems where nothing had been added in 18 months. We never tried to remove it since we weren't seeing any problems and the systems were about 1,500 gallons each with low fish loading (one or two very fat tangs.)

 

[Mike.P]

Am I the only one who sees a skull protruding from the top left of the rock in the first picture? I literally thought that's what this post was going to be about, that the rock has a "poison skull." lol

 

[Sley1]

Am I the only one who sees a skull protruding from the top left of the rock in the first picture? I literally thought that's what this post was going to be about, that the rock has a "poison skull." lol

Haha, I see it now, looks like a mummy from Egypt [emoji23][emoji23]

 

[vetteguy53081]

I would do a water test with rock in tank, then a water change and with rock removed.... but I would NOT place that rock back in tank. Something likely leeching and causing major water quality issues