Dry Rock is Orangy Rust color. Let me know if safe to use - Pictures included

Ashish Patel

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Hi All

I am working on my aquascape and most of the Marshall island rock has orangy brown color throughout and I am concerned it is rust from some natural metal inside. Initially i thought some of it was sponges but it is rock solid. I feel its some rustical or something that may cause issues. I have decided I am not going to use majority of the pieces but few of the larger pieces I need to achieve the aquascape I am going for.

Has anyone seen this and is it safe?

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Suohhen

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Very common for live rock. Minerals, algae, dead stuff. Nothing to worry about. Ofc there is some rust in LR given that rust is a very common part of the ocean but it isn't an issue in a reef tank. The issue with rust is that the metals we have are not simply iron but other things that could be harmful but iron itself is actually a very important part of photosynthisis and many organisms have evolved to convert rust into iron for their purposes.
 

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Soak it in bleach for a week. It will be sparkling white.
 
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Ashish Patel

Ashish Patel

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Very common for live rock. Minerals, algae, dead stuff. Nothing to worry about. Ofc there is some rust in LR given that rust is a very common part of the ocean but it isn't an issue in a reef tank. The issue with rust is that the metals we have are not simply iron but other things that could be harmful but iron itself is actually a very important part of photosynthisis and many organisms have evolved to convert rust into iron for their purposes.
Awesome answer! Thanks Pal.
 
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Ashish Patel

Ashish Patel

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The rocks are perfectly fine to use. Start a build thread so I can follow along. What size tank have you gotten or will get?
400 gallon tank, check out my build thread, its about to get rolling now.

 

fishface NJ

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Wow 400 gallon! We have someone on NJRC with a big tank and he is now selling it from Monroe NJ. I will be following your build! Just saw you are located near by
 

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It's not iron... when I dried out some rock from a old tank it had those deposits too. It is normal.
 

JCOLE

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Hi All

I am working on my aquascape and most of the Marshall island rock has orangy brown color throughout and I am concerned it is rust from some natural metal inside. Initially i thought some of it was sponges but it is rock solid. I feel its some rustical or something that may cause issues. I have decided I am not going to use majority of the pieces but few of the larger pieces I need to achieve the aquascape I am going for.

Has anyone seen this and is it safe?

47642.jpeg
47639.jpeg


47649.jpeg
47641.jpeg

Did you end up using this rock and if so, have you noticed any issues with it?

I am cleaning some dry rock and I noticed something similar.
20220319_170235.jpg
20220319_170232.jpg
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Ashish Patel

Ashish Patel

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Yeah I am using it. So far so good but I won't comment until I get my first icp test. Everyone on this thread said mineral deposits so I trust its fine. Notice the Rock in the tank is covered in it.

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