I have seen some older threads about this but I was wondering if anyone has tried Lava Rock as a filter media in a Sump? I am working on my 265Gal and am trying to figure out what to do as far as media. I will have a bunch of live rock but want that for the display and not the sump. Just looking for ideas. The tank will be a grouper or two, Lion fish, toad fish and some other assorted larger fish.. Thanks.
Lava Rock for Marine filter media???
- Thread starter gman2012
- Start date
hehehe I wonder if you saw the thread I started about this back in January. 
I had lava rock in my sump for about a day before everyone here convinced me that it wasn't worth the risk of leaching anything into the system. I replaced it with what was dead base rock hammered into rubble. It's now live and I've added live sand and much more live rock, etc. You can see the sump/refugium I've ended up with thus far in the link in my signature.
If you can get your hands on some base rock cheaply, or even live rock that someone who is getting out of the hobby is selling and break it up into rubble, that would be better than lava. Or just order some live sand and start a refugium from one of the many online places. IPSF.com has an awesome deal for starting a refuge.
Hope this helps!
eta: check out craigslist for local deals on stuff from people breaking down tanks, see if you can find a reef club locally and you can always find people selling stuff. Even if you're not doing a reef. My local reef club has a section for FOWLRs.
I had lava rock in my sump for about a day before everyone here convinced me that it wasn't worth the risk of leaching anything into the system. I replaced it with what was dead base rock hammered into rubble. It's now live and I've added live sand and much more live rock, etc. You can see the sump/refugium I've ended up with thus far in the link in my signature. If you can get your hands on some base rock cheaply, or even live rock that someone who is getting out of the hobby is selling and break it up into rubble, that would be better than lava. Or just order some live sand and start a refugium from one of the many online places. IPSF.com has an awesome deal for starting a refuge.
Hope this helps!
eta: check out craigslist for local deals on stuff from people breaking down tanks, see if you can find a reef club locally and you can always find people selling stuff. Even if you're not doing a reef. My local reef club has a section for FOWLRs.