Using rocks found outside for tank decor?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Broken, You may have heard that they will explode in a microwave.

It is true... Ask my 7 year old house in my parent's friends house, while the 3 of them were at a concert... I wanted to see how hot a rock would get. :)
 
rwellbaum said:
I have baked rocks in the oven before with no problems

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If you do this, put cold rocks in a cold oven and raise the temperature. If you put cold rocks in a hot oven, you are more likely to have them crack. I never heard of an exploding rock, though. Maybe an uncracked geode would?
 
The firefighter coming out in me now... Granite rocks contain free quartz which explode when exposed to 575*C and can spread over a fair distance, other igneous rocks may also explode but i believe granite to be the worst and I'm fairly certain that the 575*C is across the board. If you are using boiling water which will be 100*C you should be more than safe to do this.

Fordy
 
I have you used slate rocks all the time from a stream area. I never used rocks that were in the water but I have dug up pieces from the surrounding area. I would use a brush to scrub dirt and other debris from them and rinse them. That is all I ever did and I have never had any problems.
 
I do it all the time. Wash them with a brush well and just put them in the tank. If your really worried you can boil them or add a little bleach to clean then rinse really well. Bit anymore I just wash well and put in the tank.

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broken said:
I was always under the impression that some rocks can explode when you boil them?
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Its not the boiling, its the rapid cooling. If you boil them, dont run them under cold water to cool them so you can handle them, be patient and let them cool on their own. Some rocks more than others. Quartz, granite and marble can shatter. Sandstone and limestone may even dissolve or erode.

Just scrub them with a wire or stiff nylon brush with a little clorox or ajax, rinse, scrub with no detergent or anything under running water.
 
Soft rock (sandstone, etc) can explode (as the result of gas expansion or rapid cooling). Treat it like you would driftwood. I would do the following (as I have in the past).
  1. Test for activity. Vinegar test may be useful.
  2. Scrub.
  3. Boil or bleach. If you boil do it slow and start cold. Do not cold rinse or you may crack rock.
  4. Soak and rinse several times (over several days/weeks).
  5. Test effect on water parameters (PH, etc.)
I’ve used natural rock before, but I’m careful of what I use. Lime stone and similar rocks are not good as they will affect water parameters.
 
Fordy17 said:
The firefighter coming out in me now... Granite rocks contain free quartz which explode when exposed to 575*C and can spread over a fair distance, other igneous rocks may also explode but i believe granite to be the worst and I'm fairly certain that the 575*C is across the board. If you are using boiling water which will be 100*C you should be more than safe to do this.

Fordy
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Yes, 575*C would require some serious equipment. I think this is a little beyond sterilization for most people.:D
 
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