anyone use blocks for support?

[AWD]

It may seem crazy or dumb but I need to build a 3'-4' high rock wall in tank. I just bought 80 lbs of liverock for $380 and it isn't even close to what I need. I think if I use building blocks for support that would help alleviate the costs. I also want to use in the sump.

What do you ALL think

Andy

 

[Anonymous]

Blocks of what?

I'd go with PVC, m'self.

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

hi.
Cement blocks commonly used for building material may leak metal slowly to your tank. Check with contractor to make sure.

 

[Will C1]

i use tufa rock as filler. its very cheap and will turn into live rock after a few years.

 

[Anonymous]

I cannot at all recommend that anyone use any metamorphic rock of any kind (this includes all volcanic rock--of which tufa is one) because of the possibility of mineral/chemical leach.

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

hi.
A lot of folks use tufa rock without any problem. The important thing is to make sure the rock is accertained to be free from heavy metal and copper. Tufa rock from different region of the US (and around the world) has different composition, and if geologists or mineralogists had certified the rock, it is perfectly fine to use it.

 

[Anonymous]

And a lot of folks use tufa (or what they think is tufa) with problems. If someone has figured out to get the certification you've mentioned then I would suppose that they can proceed with some assurance of safety. However, I am still quite leery and will never advise anyone to use it. Better safe than sorry. Besides, Mr. Pea, not everyone is as smart as you, are they?

 

[AWD]

It's cynder block the same stuff used for construction. I believe it is just a clay mixture then cooked. I live in Utah which means most everthing here is calcium carbonate.

 

[Robin Goodfellow]

hi.
Not all construction materials are mined locally. As Ms. Orange said already, use PVC pipe and make a shelf for the rock to rest on. Live rock is not very heavy under water, and PVC pipe is suitable for your application without worry.

Alternatively, you can try and get some dried base rock from Carib-Sea. I never use it myself, but the price is around $1 / lb. You don't want to use nice puprle live rock for the support anyway, since it is a real waste of money.

 

[Newts]

There's a guy on Reef Central , Mustang , that has a fantastic set-up. He's got a big tank (like 400g or something like that) with a couple 100g RubberMaid tubs in the basement, plus a 50g grow-out tub,and some other stuff all tied in ,anyway I know he used cement blocks to make a base for the rock in his tank. I have personally seen his set-up and his corals grow at a very fast rate. You should check out his web site http://www.kensreef.homestead.com and maybe email him to get more info. He's a great guy and will always take time to help out or just talk about reefing. He's also got nice frags for a good price. He brought like 80 frags to our last frag swap and sold them all.

 

[Mogo]

There is also a public aquarium (sorry forgotten which one) that uses cinder blocks as a base. Saw photos of it somewhere.

 

[Anonymous]

I suppose that if you were really worried about leach you could coat them very generously with some sort of epoxy, yeah?

 

[Mogo]

Further to my above post- Waikiki Aquarium. "The Reef Aquarium" Volume 1, Delbeek and Sprung, page 223. Photo shows your idea in action.
An important note:
It says in the photo caption that the cinder blocks were "cured in freshwater for several weeks with weak acid to remove excess alkaline substances..." HTH.

 

[Anonymous]

Just as we would do when using cement to build ponds then, eh?

Btw, what does HTH stand for?

 

[Anonymous]

Just as we would do when using cement to build ponds then, eh?

Btw, what does HTH stand for?

HTH= hope this (that?) helps.

you aren't confusing tufa rock with man made "lava" rock which actually isn't real lava rock are you?

 

[Anonymous]

Nope.

 

[Anonymous]

tufa is just clay, isn't it?

 

[Anonymous]

No, it's a type of volcanic rock. It's very lightweight, and, IIRC, it's formed when lava is basically "puffed" up with internal gasses.

 

[Anonymous]

i believe this is what is commonly referred to as "tufa" on this board.


link

admittedly, i don't know what all qualifies as "tufa"

 

[Anonymous]

I stand corrected.

I had read some years ago of tufa when reading up on different forms of volcanic/metamorphic rock. However, from what this page says about it, I'd still be leery of using in a reef tank, eh? Hoser!