lace rock bad?

[segraves1]

Has anyone heard this?

LFS guy said "I don't like lace rock for reefs because it is volcanic and thus has a lot of metals in it. It can kill corals."


Now...wait....what? My tank is 90% lace rock (there is live rock in the sump and some stuck around in places), has been up for several months, and overall I "guess" things seem to be doing ok (other than the masive brown hair I'm fighting). My bubble and hammer are "out", the zoas are growing, and the fish are healthy as can be. The only thing that does not seem to grow are macros and Xenia (go figure).

As I see it, are not most islands in the pacific volcanic in origan? Why would reef stores sell lace rock if it WERE dangerous? I'm sure I'm not the only person to build a tank out of lace rock.

[lReef lKeeper]

i have SOME lace rock in my 55 and have never had a problem. but, i have also never heard this before. i DO usually cure it for a LOOOONG time before i add it to a tank, but that shouldn't really make any changes to it.

[jojo22]

There is a difference between lace and volcanic rocks. My LFS sells both but tells EVERYONE that the volcanic is for FW only. Lace rock on the otherhand is either man made of basicly deady dry and clean LR. It is what wases up on shore and stays there (from what i'm told) my nano that recently got the "copper screwdrive" treatment(wounder where I picked up that phrase???) was 90% lace and did fine.

[playa0069u]

My tank although relatively new is clean dry live (dead lol) base rock (lace rock) and is doing great.

[JustDavidP]

Most "Lace Rock" is a form of volcanic rock. Rather than forming underwater or in the earth, it forms on the mantle. It is highly organic and may contain metals. I've heard of others using it, but shyed away from doing so for these reasons, and for the sheer fact that it doesn't help with buffering and calcium etc.

D

[playa0069u]

Oh ok well mine is just old live rock lol.