Types of Dry/Base rock to use - Help Needed

Hello Friends

I am new to this forum and also beginner to saltwater tank. I have 80 gallon fish only tank and would like to have some rocks in it. I don't want to spend much buying live rock as I don't have plan to start reef tank. I went to near by rockery store and found some of below rocks to keep in my tank. Can you please suggest if they are safe to use:

1. Lace rock
2. Red lava rock
3. Florida Fieldstone
4. Coquina Boulders

Awaiting your responses.

 

The lace rock in fine, but red lava rock in a no no in saltwater. It will leach minerals in the water that will cause more algae to grow. I don’t know about the other rocks. Maybe someone else will.

 

What is your budget? If you have $150+ go with Pukani from BRS. If you can only swing $100 get 50lbs from reefcleaners.

I tried to use some of my old lace rock when I started my tank but am so glad I just junked it all and got some good quality stuff. Your live rock is more for mounting corals on.. it's also one of the primary filters in your tank and the more surface area it has the more effective it will be. Lace rock is not very pourus and has the fraction the surface area of the rock that most here use.

 

It's worth noting, LR isn't just for reef tanks. It's a biological filter for things like fish waste. Give it enough time and the rock you put in will become "live", but it's nice to seed it with something. I get my LR for the same price as base at my LFS (perks of being a regular), so it's all I use. It cycled my tank super fast and have good water parameters.

 

Thanks all!

@Boostednlinefor - Thank you for pointing to reefcleaners. I am having budget of 100lbs and being 80 gallon tank, I am thinking of getting 100lbs of rock. I am planning to get 40lbs of lace rock which will cost me 40$ and get 30lbs of dry rock from reefcleaners, they are selling 2.25$ per lb. May be buy another 20-30lbs of live rock from my local lfs, so that dry/base rock get seeded with them. Cheapest LR available at my lfs being 8$ per lb.

Anyone heard about Coquina Boulders?? They are look like made up of compressed sea shells and porous. they sell cheap as well, 10 inches rock cost 4$.

 

I would second the thought of going with Reefcleaners. I Really like the rock I got, and they have both great prices and outstanding customer service.

 

Today I went to local landscaping stone store and guy who works there mentioned he's having reef tank for 10years with 70% of lace rock + 30% of live rock. he couldn't tell difference of rocks now and his daughter also started using same and found coraline algae growing on lace rock as well. Interestingly, he also mentioned someone saying it's safe to use Florida limestone as base rock. I did little research on it, looks they are safe as limestone made of calcium carbonate. Please check this link, it's looks interesting.

Reefs.org: Where Reefkeeping Begins on the Internet - Limestone as a Live Rock Alternative

but I am not sure if florida limestone same as florida fieldstone. florida fileldstone are 0.45$ per lb..