Planted lava rocks disintegrated

[EmJay]

Hi,

I purchased 2 lava rocks with Java fern growing on them, approx 11 months ago. During this time the lava rocks have completely disintegrated, leaving behind just the Java ferns.
Does anyone know why this has happened please?

Kind regards

 

[Ch4rlie]

Did you happen to have a picture of this lava rock or perhaps a website link where you bought these lava rocks from?

At the moment am uncertain which lava rocks you have and what it is exactly.

So any more information you can provide, this may be of help.

 

[EmJay]

I purchased them from Pets At Home. I have no photos of mine as the rocks have completely disintegrated but they were the same as this one.....

 

[Ch4rlie]

Hmm, am not the greatest fan of Pets at Home but would have thought these lava rock be safe enough as these are usually inert.

The rocks look porous meaning full of little holes and water goes into these pores but to break it down completely is not something am aware of unless it was very a soft rock and easily broken up, so that would explain why they’ve disintegrated over the last 11 months or so.

If your livestock are behaving normally and no gasping near water surface or lethargy etc then would leave the broken lava rocks where they are unless it’s unsightly then would simply remove the broken lava rocks from the tank.

Then you could possibly find a nice piece of bogwood, drift wood or red moor root wood and you can tie or glue the java ferns onto those, looks real nice.

Or find some stronger inert stone like a nice piece of slate with no sharp edges or dragon stones which looks nice with java fern or moss attached to that.

A few options there to consider anyway.

 

[StevenF]

That doesn't look like any lava rock I have ever seen. Difficult to tell but It looks like grave with some sort of binder such as sandstone. It that was the cost the sandstone would loose its GH binders over time and just turn into regular sand with gravel mixed in.

 

[EmJay]

Hmm, am not the greatest fan of Pets at Home but would have thought these lava rock be safe enough as these are usually inert.

The rocks look porous meaning full of little holes and water goes into these pores but to break it down completely is not something am aware of unless it was very a soft rock and easily broken up, so that would explain why they’ve disintegrated over the last 11 months or so.

If your livestock are behaving normally and no gasping near water surface or lethargy etc then would leave the broken lava rocks where they are unless it’s unsightly then would simply remove the broken lava rocks from the tank.

Then you could possibly find a nice piece of bogwood, drift wood or red moor root wood and you can tie or glue the java ferns onto those, looks real nice.

Or find some stronger inert stone like a nice piece of slate with no sharp edges or dragon stones which looks nice with java fern or moss attached to that.

A few options there to consider anyway.

Thank you, I'll look at doing that then.
What do I need to use to tie or glue them?

 

[EmJay]

That doesn't look like any lava rock I have ever seen. Difficult to tell but It looks like grave with some sort of binder such as sandstone. It that was the cost the sandstone would loose its GH binders over time and just turn into regular sand with gravel mixed in.

Thank you