melawii

The fishguy at my local fish store gave me a bucket of what I beleive to be is limestone coral rock (lots of holes in it, very light) it was previously in some of his marine tanks. I'm wondering if cleaned up, this rock is suitable in a freshwater cichlid tank? And if so, how exactly do I clean it? I only want to use one particular peice in the set-up idea that I have, the rest I want to maybe try in a reef tank sometime soon. I'm going to post this here and in the saltwater forum since it kinda bridges on the two aquarium types, sorry for the double post! Thanks

jsalemi

You have to be careful with that in fresh water -- it can radically change your pH, and maybe not for the better. You should do the vinegar test on it. Put a couple of drops of vinegar on a corner of it -- if it fizzes, that indicates there's calcium carbonate in the rock, and you don't want that in your freshwater tank.

Isabella

I personally wouldn't use that rock in a freshwater tank. Though what Cichlids do you have in mind? If you'll have African Cichlids then maybe the rock will be OK, as African Cichlids like harder water. Though I have no idea how much your pH would be raised by the rock.

melawii

I plan to use the rock for my wild kribensis pair, but no big deal if I don't. I'll do the vinegar test tonight!

Tom

Like I said in the other one, is it by chance Texas holey rock?
Tom