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 #1830825


C.cyber
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 Lava rock?

can i substitute lava rock for expanded clay balls in the bottom of my false bottom vivarium???
08/14/08  02:12pm

 #1831580


Hoppy
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   Message To: C.cyber   In reference to Message Id: 1830825


 Lava rock?



I wouldn’t....

There are several kinds of lava rock...red and black etc...

Some contain iron more in the red..toxic to your frog in the quantity required for a false bottom..

All Lava rock has compounds that can change the ph value if used in large quantity which can change earth or water... Frogs prefer alkaline so a ph value of 7 and up but I wouldn’t pass ph9. How much this lava would be needed to cause issues is unknown....

Lava isn’t recommended in fish tanks for instance but can be used in small quatities in filtering aspects of ponds...

The other concern as always is the texture which is like sand paper if they ever get to it....

If you really want to try it; You set your tank up for a good month or so and test ph value of your substrate.....using a soil test kit... I have never used one but have heard its not easy to read as they come with video.... but you may have a testing center near you if you live an an agricultural area like near farms...
Some garden centers will do so too as many use this method for plant growing as well as vedg and fruits....

Good luck...

HOPPY
08/15/08  07:47am

 #1831746


ILoveGreen
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   Message To: Hoppy   In reference to Message Id: 1831580


 Lava rock?

On another frog forum(bigger) there are a few very experenced members that use lava rocks as a drainage layer and they say they work just fine....just rinse very well. I just started using them as a drainage layer in my bullfrogs large tank. I’ll be testing the water later and I’ll let you know what the outcome is. :)
08/15/08  11:19am

 #1831980


Peas_on_earth
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   Message To: ILoveGreen   In reference to Message Id: 1831746


 Lava rock?

Good luck, I hope it works out well. It’s all about opinion and what works for you...so if it works, great! If not, then at least you know for sure =)
08/15/08  04:00pm

 #1832105


C.cyber
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   Message To: Peas_on_earth   In reference to Message Id: 1831980


 Lava rock?

thank you very much!!!!
08/15/08  05:54pm

 #1832576


Peas_on_earth
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   Message To: C.cyber   In reference to Message Id: 1832105


 Lava rock?

Just make sure you watch them carefully any time you change something...if something does go wrong, you want to catch it early. Good luck!
08/16/08  02:42am

 #1832824


Rrrragdoll
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   Message To: Peas_on_earth   In reference to Message Id: 1832576


 Lava rock?

I’ve asked about various things as well since I don’t have access to the leca at anything but expensive prices. I wash told about using the lava rock as well, the only thing is that I would only use it if not running water underneath or through it. I just worry about the safety. The person that responded on that "big board" is also more of a dart frog person and the water in those is not used for soaking like in our tanks.

If however you just want it for air below the substrate and you’re using a water dish then I would think that is perfectly fine since they won’t have access to it. I am actually going to be using some packing peanuts under my substrate in my new tank. You do have to check those as well since some degrade (made of sugar or something), but I tested mine in water for over a week and tested the ph and all is fine (though I’m not using mine in water).
08/16/08  12:34pm

 #1834463


C.cyber
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   Message To: Rrrragdoll   In reference to Message Id: 1832824


 Lava rock?

well the lava rock isnt gonna be in the water..its just gonna be used as drainage.(above the eggcrate) water will be lower then the egg crate.
08/17/08  11:11pm

 #1834552


Rrrragdoll
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   Message To: C.cyber   In reference to Message Id: 1834463


 Lava rock?

You should in that case be able to just lay a sheet of landscape paper over the eggcrate and then the substrate over that (no lava or leca). Just keep about 1/8"-1/4" or so between the water level and the paper so it doesn’t wick up. The purpose of the leca is a place for air and water to pass, the paper will keep the soil up and the eggcrate provides the air gap.
08/18/08  01:02am

 #1834827


Amphibiandude
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   Message To: Rrrragdoll   In reference to Message Id: 1834552


 Lava rock?

bad idea
08/18/08  12:03pm


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