Member

Posts: 25
From:hood river, or, usa
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 07-19-2003 03:13 AM         

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is it all right to put rocks you find into your tanks if you scrub, bleech, soak, and rince them. i have done it without any real trouble but i want to know if i am dooming my fish?
thanx -m_ikel34

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Member

Posts: 401
From:Tennessee, USA
Registered: May 2003

posted 07-19-2003 10:54 AM         

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I would say that would be ok. I guess if you REALLY wanted to make sure, yuo could boil them?

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Member

Posts: 183
From:austin,tx, usa
Registered: Dec 2002

posted 07-19-2003 11:07 AM         

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I've been reading about this lately..
I've read that if you can scratch the rock with a knife and it doesn't leave a mark then it's safe. also, I think you can drop vinegar on it and if it fizzles then it's not safe. You should not use limestone as it's too alkaline, unless your water is extremely acid. even then you have to be careful. (sadly that's ALL we have around here!)
here's some links..
http://fishenthusiast.com/articles/aquariumrocks.html
http://www.uniquaria.com/articles/sr.html

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posted 07-19-2003 12:28 PM           

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One more thing.
You need to put them in boiling water for a few minutes so it will for sure get all the bacteria and stuff that shouldnt be in your tank.

I have tried just washing them off and most of the time it will cause your water to fog up and look nasty although I have never lost a fish because of this it is still a pain in the butt to clean a big tank every other day.

Good luck

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Member

Posts: 401
From:Tennessee, USA
Registered: May 2003

posted 07-19-2003 03:43 PM         

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yeh thats what i posted, to boil them..

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Moderator

Posts: 806
From:
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 07-20-2003 02:32 AM         

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Interesting comments. With all of the tests listed here almost none of the rocks found in local pet stores here would pass. The rocks you see in pet shops in the DFW area are: holy rock (limestone), sandstone (won't pass the scratch test), lava rock (won't pass the vinegar test), flagstone (same as sandstone). Only the petrified wood and slate would pass those tests. I've always had holy rock in my tanks without any problems. I would advise against the use of sandstone, flagstone and lava rock. With those rocks if your fish get ich and scratch against them they can end up with some nasty scrapes. I would suggest bleaching any rocks you get from nature. Rocks have a habit of drawing all kinds of little critters into the crevices and decaying organic matter in an aquarium equals fungus problems. Also you want to make sure there is no residue such as oils or pesticides left on the rocks.

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Member

Posts: 25
From:hood river, or, usa
Registered: Jul 2003

posted 07-20-2003 03:42 AM         

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hey thanx a lot this will really help me out.

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