Using coral skeletons

[*Andrea*]

I have some coral skeletons and I am wondering if they can be used in a reef tank. I’d like to put some Zoas and other encrusting corals on them. I’m new to this and I’m not sure if it would work. If it is ok to use them what should I do to them before putting them into the tank? Soak in a bleach solution?
Thanks

 

[Ron Reefman]

Coral skeletons are what most real reef rock is! Yes it's OK to use. Is it old skeleton or from some coral that died recently or was it in some other tank? It would probably be good to give it a bleach and then dry it, then wash it in water (RO/DI would be good but tape water will due) and let it dry again. Then use it. I had some big tonga branch coral skeletons and I attached zoas to it. It took a couple of years to become covered, but it was very cool.

Good luck and welcome to R2R!

 

[*Andrea*]

Coral skeletons are what most real reef rock is! Yes it's OK to use. Is it old skeleton or from some coral that died recently or was it in some other tank? It would probably be good to give it a bleach and then dry it, then wash it in water (RO/DI would be good but tape water will due) and let it dry again. Then use it. I had some big tonga branch coral skeletons and I attached zoas to it. It took a couple of years to become covered, but it was very cool.
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These are pieces my dad had sitting on a shelf (wrapped in plastic) for probably 30 years. See pics below. What concentration of bleach solution should I use? I have ro/di to rinse. Do you have pics of your Zoa encrusted Tonga branch skeleton? I’d love to see what it looked like.

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[Ron Reefman]

Spray them with bleach out in the sun, let them dry. Soak them in water for a day and they should be OK. The one issue I have is they may be extra difficult to clean if algae starts to grom on them and you can't glue anything to that plate coral, it's way to textured.

 

[reefsaver]

These are pieces my dad had sitting on a shelf (wrapped in plastic) for probably 30 years. See pics below. What concentration of bleach solution should I use? I have ro/di to rinse. Do you have pics of your Zoa encrusted Tonga branch skeleton? I’d love to see what it looked like.

[/QUOTE]

Dude that plate coral is absolutely massive! That's super awesome!

 

[Goaway]

Safe to use. Rinsing is all i would do. Especially if it was just wrapped in plastic. Nice pieces.

 

[Fredinva]

Safe to use. Rinsing is all i would do. Especially if it was just wrapped in plastic. Nice pieces.

I'm about ready to use some bleached coral in my 125 build. 2 or 3 pieces I once used in my salt tank back in the 70's. They will get covered in time but just be like more live rock.

 

[BanZI29]

having these in a tank, does it help with calcium levels in the water?

 

[Goaway]

I'm about ready to use some bleached coral in my 125 build. 2 or 3 pieces I once used in my salt tank back in the 70's. They will get covered in time but just be like more live rock.

That's what real live rock is. Coral skeletons.

having these in a tank, does it help with calcium levels in the water?

It wont replace the need to dose or do water changes. Only so much leaches back out into the water column.

 

[Fredinva]

That's what real live rock is. Coral skeletons.

It wont replace the need to dose or do water changes. Only so much leaches back out into the water column.

 

[Fredinva]

Now the cycle starts! This will be a fish only tank. LFS is holding fish #1, A nice porcupine puffer. He may have the trigger I want also.?

 

[Goaway]

Looks good, I'll love to see the fish when you get them.