"bowl" rock -vs- base rock

I was at the LFS today looking to swap out a couple of pieces of rock in my tank for some new base.

Anyway as I was rummaging through the bulk rock area the guy told me that it was "bowl rock", not a term I'm familiar with. He said it was used in both FW and marine aquariums.

Have any of you heard this term and if so is this guy being straight up? I assume with it's porous nature that it will become live after it colonizes, but I want to make sure it's not going to leach in a SW environment.

 

Well, most rock, after being put into a SW tank, will become "live". I've never heard this term used before.

 

If its lava rock I probably wouldn't use it personally.

 

no idea... never heard it... Agree if it's lava rock I wouldn't use it. Does it have colors? Colors are generally some mineral or another and tend to leach.

 

I'll post a pic of it tonight when I get home from work.

 

I Googled "bowl rock" and didn't have much luck. Most threads on other forums had people asking about it, and no responses to those postings really knew anything about it. Once did mention volcanic rock, so I'd be careful. Many postings I found also said their LFS said they were safe, but who knows.

 

Bowl rock is usually volcanic in nature and used for ciclid tanks in rock walls from what I have seen. I would avoid it since most of what I have seen of it was grey in color not creamy white like reef rock.

 

Well, maybe this will go into my cichlid tank then it's just a beautiful piece.


First pic is the way I envisioned it in the tank, second and third are closeups to show texture.

 

Great piece but I wouldn't put it in my reef.

 

For the $4.50 is cost my green terror can enjoy it.

Out of curiosity what is the biggest threat from volcanic rock?
Follow up to that question is if volcanic rock is a bad thing how are the reefs in Hawaii so plentiful? Or is that just a matter of the ocean being such a large eco system that it can't make a significant contribution in a negative way?