reef rock, in fresh water?
 

Hello, I'v been thinking about getting a 55gal cichlid tank for a while now, so the other day I was at my LFS when some dry corral like rock caught my eye, so the question is, could I use this rock in a fresh water tank to imtate a saltwater reef?

Completely dried, bleached coral should be ok. Rocks should be the same, I think. Not 100% sure, though.

In fresh water, dead coral will increase your Ph and increase water hardness(GH and KH). Since you are keeping cichlids it should not matter all that much.

Ok, so if I just monitor it closely it should be fine?

It will be fine I have a 55gal mbuna cichlid tank that has 5 pieces of volcanic reef rock from hawaii and all of my cichlids love it. Just before you put them in you have to pour boilling water onto the rocks ( DO NOT BOIL THE ROCKS IN THE WATER!!!) then you soak them over night in a bleach and water solution then rinse them, rinse them, rinse them, then soak them in plain water for a bit then rinse them again and then finnally put them someplace to dry completly before you use them.