Is lava rock reef-safe?

[Fish Fan]

Maybe you should reach out to all the fresh water enthusiasts who have nothing, but lava rock as their hardscape material while keeping very sensitive freshwater shrimp (e.g., caridina).

Do you have an example of this? I don't know anyone that keeps Caridina shrimp on lava rock substrate. Are you sure you're not thinking of the black aqua-soils used for plant growth?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Maybe you should reach out to all the fresh water enthusiasts who have nothing, but lava rock as their hardscape material while keeping very sensitive freshwater shrimp (e.g., caridina).

Not trying to be the grammar **** or anything but no, your opinion wasn't "clearly" articulated.

I did. I telephoned every aquarist using lava rock before formulating my stated opinion that I would not use lava rock. including fresh, salt and brackish types. Even ponds.

 

[Baldyreef]

Maybe you should reach out to all the fresh water enthusiasts who have nothing, but lava rock as their hardscape material while keeping very sensitive freshwater shrimp (e.g., caridina).

Do you have an example of this? I don't know anyone that keeps Caridina shrimp on lava rock substrate. Are you sure you're not thinking of the black aqua-soils used for plant growth?

I’ve been in freshwater for 10 years and kept various shrimp for 4 neocaridinia do great with lava rock but unlike what bear22 said neocaridinia are bulletproof little guys, as for more sensitive types like king kongs I don’t even use it out of risk

 

[Privateye]

I can't weigh-in on the corals and other inverts but I cared for a saltwater tank with a 2-story wall of red lava rock in it. It was FOWLR, but the fish did fine long-term. No major algae issues.

I think concerns about contaminants are valid. The concentrations of these may depend on the collection site and plate tectonics for all I know. I'd appreciate some input from any geologists out there! The fact that there's red and black lava rock implies that not all lava is the same. I have spent zero time looking into the geology of lava rock though. I'm ignorant.

 

[Bear22]

I did. I telephoned every aquarist using lava rock before formulating my stated opinion that I would not use lava rock. including fresh, salt and brackish types. Even ponds.

Kudos.

I am glad that all the various users of lava rock spanning the globe heeded your advice and stopped using lava rock in their aquariums.

Oh wait...

;-)

 

[BeanAnimal]

Maybe you should reach out to all the fresh water enthusiasts who have nothing, but lava rock as their hardscape material while keeping very sensitive freshwater shrimp (e.g., caridina).

Not trying to be the grammar **** or anything but no, your opinion wasn't "clearly" articulated.

Well,

Maybe you should include the "IMO" with respect to black sand considering many vendors sell it specifically for reefing applications.

Additionally, companies like ADA make some of the finest substrates in the world using volcanic rock and volcanic ash.

And isn't zeolite made from volcanic rock and ash too?

My only suggestion to the OP was to not use some rock from some gardening center from some big box store. No telling whats in that stuff

You are being obtuse and combative. His opinion and the reason for it could not have been articulated more clearly.

By your measure, wood is wood and stone is stone. Therefore, any wood or any stone is suitable anywhere that wood or stone are used. That is nonsense.

All “lava rock” is not the same because its composition depends on the magma source, eruption conditions, etc.

ADA substrate and zeolite are distinct materials or products, not evidence that unidentified "lava rock" is safe.

Selling something “specifically for reefing” does not mean that what is being sold is safe for reefing, especially considering modern supply chains. You say not to purchase from a garden or big-box store, as if purchasing from an online “aquarium” vendor establishes what they are selling. Does it come with an assay?

The general advice, opinion based or not, was soundly reasoned.

 

[Bear22]

I’ve been in freshwater for 10 years and kept various shrimp for 4 neocaridinia do great with lava rock but unlike what bear22 said neocaridinia are bulletproof little guys, as for more sensitive types like king kongs I don’t even use it out of risk

Accept I said caridina specis not "neocaridinia". Big difference.

Words matter

Either way, sensitive or not so sensitive shrimp are "sensitive" to certain elements.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Kudos.

I am glad that all the various users of lava rock spanning the globe heeded your advice and stopped using lava rock in their aquariums.

Oh wait...

;-)

You apparently misunderstood. I did not give them advice, I merely asked for theirs with respect to the topic at hand: reef tanks. .

 

[Baldyreef]

I’ve been in freshwater for 10 years and kept various shrimp for 4 neocaridinia do great with lava rock but unlike what bear22 said neocaridinia are bulletproof little guys, as for more sensitive types like king kongs I don’t even use it out of risk

Accept I said caridina specis not "neocaridinia". Big difference.

Words matter

I did not notice the wording mistake I apologize for this but I must ask what tanks with Caridinia have you seen with black live rock? What kind of caridinia?

 

[Bear22]

You apparently misunderstood. I did not give them advice, I merely asked for theirs.

So, you formulated your opinion in contravention to all those users of lava rock in their aquariums?

What was the N ratio? (your opinion verses their opinion)? ;-)

 

[BeanAnimal]

Is there a badge for framing so combative, disingenuous, and silly that it manages to exhaust even Randy’s seemingly limitless patience and provoke actual sarcasm?

 

[Fish Fan]

I’ve been in freshwater for 10 years and kept various shrimp for 4 neocaridinia do great with lava rock but unlike what bear22 said neocaridinia are bulletproof little guys, as for more sensitive types like king kongs I don’t even use it out of risk

I'll say it a bit more nicely, but indeed Neocaridina shrimp are very hardy, especially in comparison to the Caridina shrimp. I'm still not sure anyone keeps the Caridina shrimp on lava rock, but I'm all ears if they do

Again, are we sure we're not mistaking the Aqua-Soils, which look like little black balls?

Oh, and I've been in freshwater give or take a week about 44 years

Thanks for your reply!

 

[Baldyreef]

I’ve been in freshwater for 10 years and kept various shrimp for 4 neocaridinia do great with lava rock but unlike what bear22 said neocaridinia are bulletproof little guys, as for more sensitive types like king kongs I don’t even use it out of risk

I should clarify the lava rock I live used in aquascapes for my shrimp are red not black which is less of a leaching risk and I don’t risk it with my less hardy shrimp and opt for aqua soil

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So, you formulated your opinion in contravention to all those users of lava rock in their aquariums?

What was the N ratio? (your opinion verses their opinion)? ;-)

Contravention? I do not remember very many saying they recommended it for reef tanks.

Since I don't know what an N ratio is, you'll have to trust that I integrated over all of the available opinions, plus my knowledge of chemistry and the composition of lava rock, as well as the known toxicity thresholds of marine species to develop my opinion that I would not do it due to the stated "too much risk".

 

[Bear22]

I did not notice the wording mistake I apologize for this but I must ask what tanks with Caridinia have you seen with black live rock? What kind of caridinia?

Dude come-on.

I am not going to do the heavy lifting here for you.

There are literally thousands of shrimp keeping (maybe tens of thousands) aquarists using lava rock in their aquariums.

Just do a simple Pinterest search (as one source).

There are some rock star planted tank aquascapers (with a global following) who use nothing, but lava rock in their hardscapes.

Reason being? They claim that the lava stone influences their parameters the least in terms of stone inertness which directly contradicts some opinions here.

Like I said from the beginning YMMV.

 

[Fish Fan]

Sorry to sneak this in, but for what it's worth, this is a tank with Aqua-Soil, this is very popular for freshwater planted tanks and shrimp tanks. I think this substrate could be mistaken for lava rock substrate

:

 

[Fish Fan]

Dude come-on.

I am not going to do the heavy lifting here for you.

There are literally thousands of shrimp keeping (maybe tens of thousands) aquarists using lava rock in their aquariums.

Just do a simple Pinterest search (as one source).

There are some rock star planted tank aquascapers (with a global following) who use nothing, but lava rock in their hardscapes.

Reason being? They claim that the lava stone influences their parameters the least in terms of stone inertness which directly contradicts some opinions here.

Like I said from the beginning YMMV.

After this reply I am very confident that you're thinking of Aqua-Soil

 

[Bear22]

Contravention? I do not remember very many saying they recommended it for reef tanks.

Since I don't know what an N ratio is, you'll have to trust that I integrated over all of the available opinions, plus my knowledge of chemistry and the composition of lava rock, as well as the known toxicity thresholds of marine species to develop my opinion that I would not do it due to the stated "too much risk".

Yet you've not backed up your "too much risk" with much (if any?) qualitative data.

Be the scientist here...

 

[Baldyreef]

I did not notice the wording mistake I apologize for this but I must ask what tanks with Caridinia have you seen with black live rock? What kind of caridinia?

Dude come-on.

I am not going to do the heavy lifting here for you.

There are literally thousands of shrimp keeping (maybe tens of thousands) aquarists using lava rock in their aquariums.

Just do a simple Pinterest search (as one source).

There are some rock star planted tank aquascapers (with a global following) who use nothing, but lava rock in their hardscapes.

Reason being? They claim that the lava stone influences their parameters the least in terms of stone inertness which directly contradicts some opinions here.

Like I said from the beginning YMMV.

I assumed you were talking about specific tanks you’ve seen in person and as far as asking which caridinia I was asking because some are hardier and more tolerant than others, I’m going to conclude my part in this arguement as the last thing op needs is another person arguing and blowing up their notifications, will all things said so far can we conclude that lava rock in a reef is a gamble, and can depend on source, collection spots etc
Hope there is no hard feeling, happy reefing

 

[Bear22]

Sorry to sneak this in, but for what it's worth, this is a tank with Aqua-Soil, this is very popular for freshwater planted tanks and shrimp tanks. I think this substrate could be mistaken for lava rock substrate

:

Not familiar with this particular brand.

Aqua soil is kind of a generic term used in the planted tank community. Most of these soils are some blend of clay ceramics, volcanic ash, and crushed volcanic stone (don't tell Randy his head might explode).