Base rock/Closed loop

[trido]

Couple ??.

My LFS sells montana lava rock wich they claim can be used for both FW and SW. I can see they have used it in one of their large display tanks and it is covered with coraline etc. Is it now live rock? or just simply a little bit of filler to save money.

Also. Do all of you old pros have bulkheads specifically for your closed loops? or can you simpy hang fittings over the side? And if you do have bulkheads. Do you have one intake and two returns? Where?

 

[trido]

I keep forgetting. I HAVE had a reef tank for over ten years now.100% maintanance free Three unidnetified species of fish and one starfish in the lower left. Guess the starfish is only saltwater identifier.. LOL

 

[FragMaster]

http://www.intmarinefish.com/liverock.html
$3 pe rlbs FREE OVERNIGHT SHIPPING ENDS 1/7/06 at midnight I think?
CALL THEM.

 

[ChrisRD]

Once the lava rock is seeded with bacteria it will provide filtration much the same as other forms of live rock. If you get quality live rock from the ocean, however, you'll get lots of hitchhiking organisms (mostly good but possible some pests as well). I've gotten several batches of nice live rock from Premium Aquatics.

As for the closed loop - either way works, with bulkheads or over the side. The advantage to drilling and installing bulkheads is that you can better conceal the plumbing. Personally I would prefer to drill for intakes and install bulkheads/strainers on the back glass (assuming the tank will be viewed from the front) in areas that will be behind the rockwork and not very noticeable when viewing the tank. To minimize the amount of drilling/plumbing required I would just have the returns come over the side and keep outlets near the top so they are not very visible. As for numer and location of intakes/outlets - for me that would depend on the planned flowrate and what substrate will be in the tank.

JMO & HTH

 

[Anonymous]

I have done the closed loop both with a hang over intake and a drilled one. I like the drilled on better, it is easier to hide and all that stuff. On my 60 I have 2 suctions and 1 return for the closed loop.

As far as the rock I have no idea. I would be leary, but on things like that I would error on the cautious side.

 

[Talonstorm]

http://www.intmarinefish.com/liverock.html
$3 pe rlbs FREE OVERNIGHT SHIPPING ENDS 1/7/06 at midnight I think?
CALL THEM.

FYI, you get what you pay for. I fell for this sucker "deal". Read the fine print, the shipping is free, but only overnight if you order 100+ lbs, so it took 3-4 days to get to me. Furthermore, it took them over a week to ship(10 days to be specific). He promised he would put in heat packs, he didn't. The rock was wrapped in a very small amount of disintegrated newspaper and there was no water in the bag, which was only loosly ties at the top. What I got was 3 large chunks of rock with very few holes, texture, etc. It was covered in totally dead coral, sponges, etc., and had dead stinking bristle worms hanging out of it. If you look at the website, it is a scam that the sale ends at a certain date/time, he just keeps extending it. Buyer beware!

 

[Rob Top]

I have read that lava rock is a poor choice for a reef tank. There is too many unknows as to mineral content that could one day lech into your tank