Dead coral chunks...

[StingrayKid]

I have a few chunks of dead coral I found on the beach on vacation a few years back and I was thinking of putting them in my 10g Nano reef for more hiding places and such for inhabitants. Would this be safe? Should I boil the peices before I put them in the tank? Well, since the crushed coral substrate is dead coral, should I be able to put these in? Thanks.

 

[StingrayKid]

Anyone?

 

[Max]

Boil them, and test with vinagar, if it bubbles then no, if not then fine.

I would go against crushed coral substrait.

 

[StingrayKid]

Thanks for the info on the coral. As for the subsrate, why wouldnt you use it? A little more info please? I know lots of people who use and and have had no problems.

 

[Opcn]

I'm going to have to disagree with max here, The vinegar test is only going to tell you what you should already know, being a coral sheiton its going to be made out of calcium carbonate, and as such it will serve to buffer your watter to a degree wich is something that you want in a nano reef tank and growing corals and coraline algea can quickly deplete the water of disolved Calcium and Carbonate

 

[StingrayKid]

Ok so, leaving out the vineager test, should I boil it or should it be okay?

 

[Opcn]

Boiling can never hurt.

 

[StingrayKid]

So back to the crushed coral. Whats wrong with it?

 

[Mr Miagi]

You should never remove anything from its natural environmet. It has its place, and the removal of such items can cause bad effects to the beach. ie, erosion. Let alone the risk of transferring something overseas, translocal or otherwise. So please leave what you find there. Take pictures.

I dunno why max said he was against crushed coral either?!? Anyone?

 

[Opcn]

where did you think live rock comes from mrmiagi, the fish are mostly from the wild too.

 

[RamJet]

It all came from the wild if you look far enough back. However, inorder to take something from the ocean you need to obtain a permit to do so or it is illegal. If you have crushed coral it will be fine, I perfer a 50/50 with live sand but have used both by them selves.

 

[Navarre]

Boil the dead coral pieces thouroughly for at lest half an hour. i have 2 pieces in my tank that were left on my friends shelf for 25 years as ornaments. he wanted rid of them so i boiled them and placed them back in salt water where they will be of benfit rather than on a bookself.

 

[StingrayKid]

You should never remove anything from its natural environmet. It has its place, and the removal of such items can cause bad effects to the beach. ie, erosion. Let alone the risk of transferring something overseas, translocal or otherwise. So please leave what you find there. Take pictures.

Yeah.... the dead coral I found was not needed in a garden at a placed a stayed in with my parents on a scuba diving trip... I asked the owner about it and he said he didnt need it. I'm quite aware of what happens when people take things from these natural environments. Thanks for the help on the coral, I boiled it for a half hour and its fine in the tank.