Aquascape question

Jit182

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Im new to reefing and this site. Need some advice about using this rock for my aquascape. Not sure what it is but I pulled it out of a shell pit in florida. Its been sitting in dry storage for a long time. Any advice would be a great help Thanks
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revhtree

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Welcome to your new home for saltwater reef aquarium resources and fun! Welcome to the family! :D
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JonoH

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Welcome to Reef2Reef

Only issue would be not knowing what is already bound up inside the rock. You could soak it in a container with a heater and salt water and measure your phosphate levels and ICP the water for metals - but the cost would outweigh just buying some new gulf rock.
 
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Jit182

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Welcome to Reef2Reef

Only issue would be not knowing what is already bound up inside the rock. You could soak it in a container with a heater and salt water and measure your phosphate levels and ICP the water for metals - but the cost would outweigh just buying some new gulf rock.
Thanks for the info
 

TheNative192

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Im new to reefing and this site. Need some advice about using this rock for my aquascape. Not sure what it is but I pulled it out of a shell pit in florida. Its been sitting in dry storage for a long time. Any advice would be a great help Thanks
20251214_171418.jpg
20251214_171429.jpg
20251214_190305.jpg
20251214_190305.jpg
20251214_190324.jpg
20251214_160216.jpg 20251214_190314.jpg

Welcome!

I would say the risk does not outweigh the benefit unless you really like the look of the rock. As the other person mentioned the concern is what is contained in the rock & what might leach into an aquarium. In the ocean since its a rather large body of water its not as much of a concern but if you are dead set on using it drop it in a bucket of water for a month & do an ICP test (usually 30-40 dollars minimum. There is always a risk it contains stuff you do not want in a contained environment.
 

vetteguy53081

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Im new to reefing and this site. Need some advice about using this rock for my aquascape. Not sure what it is but I pulled it out of a shell pit in florida. Its been sitting in dry storage for a long time. Any advice would be a great help Thanks
20251214_171418.jpg
20251214_171429.jpg
20251214_190305.jpg
20251214_190305.jpg
20251214_190324.jpg
20251214_160216.jpg 20251214_190314.jpg
This rock has remnants of ocean life and should be ok.
 

vetteguy53081

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Peace River

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Welcome to Reef2Reef! That looks like limestone base rock with a lot of fossilized tube worms and shell remains. Totally normal for rock sourced from old shell beds. It provides a great shape for your reef, but may be some phosphate leeching (and maybe more). It probably wouldn't be a huge risk to use it, but a safer approach could be to add it to a tub with a powerhead and then test for metals and phosphate after a couple of weeks.
 

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