Did I make a mistake (AF rock)?

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Ok I’m dumb (and blind as a bat) and thought rocks are rocks are rocks (well excluding live). I decided to buy some rocks to fill unused refugium section of my sump. Googling rocks, and 22lbs of AF rock was half off plus I had some points to use so I just clicked it without any thought. Now I googled it and find it’s man made from quote all natural materials. It’s dyed with quote all natural dye. It’s apparently magic and stabilizes alkalinity and ph. It’s pumice like but not pumice? I don’t know, there’s some red flags here. I just needed some rocks. I don’t need Easter egg dyed rocks, there just going in the sump. I don’t need magic rocks, well maybe I do. Does anyone know what these are made of? It appears to be a super secret rock recipe that isn’t divulged. Why do we keep reinventing the wheel? Anyone have issues with these rocks?

 

[Viking_Reefing]

I have a decent amount of this rock in my tank and it’s completely fine. It’s basically made of zeolite.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

I have a decent amount of this rock in my tank and it’s completely fine. It’s basically made of zeolite.

That’s good to hear. Not seeing I was imagining lightweight cement backer board type of material with a percentage of styrofoam mixed in for weight reduction. I guess the zeolite similarity is where they’re claiming the magic with alkalinity, ph, etc. i had no clue it was colored. Most of those that are state coralline color right up front. This just said AF Rock, base rock. It was noted way down in the item description so I missed it. I mean who needs to read paragraphs on rock. Personally not a fan of painted rock. I can’t see it, and nobody else will either so it doesn’t matter. I just had flashbacks to the aluminum leeching and crumbling of other products and was concerned.

 

[jackson6745]

I have a decent amount of this rock in my tank and it’s completely fine. It’s basically made of zeolite.

If you have done ICP tests, do you see high barium? I have seen barium spike with the addition of zeolite stones.

 

[mpatterson42]

It could be worse, when I first started I bought 50 pounds of seiryu stone thinking it was a good deal only to find out people don't use seiryu stone in saltwater aquariums.

 

[Viking_Reefing]

If you have done ICP tests, do you see high barium? I have seen barium spike with the addition of zeolite stones.

Yes I have and no I have not seen any increased levels.