Base rock

Base Rock is a generic term for aragonite rocks which have no bacterial organisms or coralline algae growing in or on the rock. Base rock is often used as filler rock in the marine aquarium as it is much cheaper to purchase than live rock.

Base rock can also be made from artificial rock called aragrocrete which is hand made from combining crushed aragonite, sand, and portland cement. This method was created and widely popularized by GARF, an organization devoted to sustainable reef cultivation. Care must be taken when using aragrocrete as it starts off with a very high pH value that is detrimental to the reef aquarium inhabitants. After allowing the cement to dry, the pieces are sometimes acid washed and then allowed to soak in fresh water for one or more months.