What is maple leaf rock??

Hi everyone! I got this awesome rock from our lfs, who didn't have any information on the rock, (as per usual, they don`t seem to have information on anything they sell really.) I found only brand names and finally found that it`s called maple leaf rock in english but still haven't found any information on it besides that it's fine for freshwater, and can harden the water because of calcium?

But really...what is the makeup of this stone? On brasilian sites, it says it is limestone? Any thoughts? I`m just really curious, I love knowing the "science" and am frustrated with all the sites who sell this not actually saying what the heck this rock is made up of.

Thaaaankssss!

 

Looks nice at least whatever it is. I am beyond horrible at identifying rocks, except for maybe coal.

I have never actually even heard of "maple leaf rock" so i am gonna follow so maybe i learn something too!

 

It looks very similar to dragon stone, at least in colour. If it is limestone based, then it will increase your gh and kh over time.

Did you test it with an acidic substance to see if it fizzed or not? If it doesnt fizz, then its inert and wont affect your water hardness and ph.

Ive seen that rock over here quite regularly but assumed it was just dragon stone.

 

I went searching on the internet and found several references saying it was inert, then found a picture clearly showing a quartz crystal pocket. It looks like an evaporative deposit of silica-rich water that infiltrated some sort of cracks in a substrate. Chances are it shouldn’t change your water chemistry significantly unless there are pockets of calcite crystallization which can happen in evaporative deposition.

 

We tested it at the store, because not even they were sure if it was supposed to be for freshwater or marine water, it didn't fizz.

We tested the water and so far the ph is 7.2, but I understand this doesn't say much about the actual hardness of the water. I'm going to order a hardness test online soon.

If possible, our plan is to keep a betta or maybe a few neon tetras (or both, if it's a female better, perhaps). But yeah, i wanted to figure out what this would do to the water so we could get appropriate fish. Thanks for all the information!