Are these rocks safe

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
The vinegar test for rocks is useful for a variety of salts, but most commonly calcium carbonate. It will not always noticeably foam... listen to the rocks for popping (just like with rice crispies). The concern is that adding these rocks to your tank will bring up kH and gH.
 
Its more so the metals in the rock thats dangerous. Like in your photo, theres a vein of some other mystery material.

The white ? It looks like quartz or something.
 
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My suggestion is as was mentioned earlier: head to a landscape company. I did that and found tons of slate, river rock, marble, etc. for my tanks. And they typically know exactly what their rocks are and what is in them.

And the prices were amazingly low.

Rivers are cheaper but have hazards (bacteria, snakes, etc.) plus some states actually will fine you for taking anything. But I'm a city boy, so keep that in mind.
 
Its more so the metals in the rock thats dangerous. Like in your photo, theres a vein of some other mystery material.

While this is a concern, the vinegar test will not help you with this.

The white ? It looks like quartz or something.

Those are veins of crystallized rock, perhaps quartz.

Rivers are cheaper but have hazards (bacteria, snakes, etc.) plus some states actually will fine you for taking anything. But I'm a city boy, so keep that in mind.

Until recently i was too. Talk about culture shock lol

City-zens should not collect rocks from their local streams. Head out into that foreign world known as "the country". Once you feel the ominous presence of space and a low cell signal, you are ready to collect rocks. In most cases you are far more at risk of banjo toting farmers and park ranger than bacteria and snakes (and bears! oh, my).

Do not take rocks from local, state, or federal PARKS or PRESERVES without permission.
 
I always went to the landscape/stone supply company in my area (Halquist).
They would weigh my truck when I drove in, I'd park next to the pile of rocks I wanted, load um up, and they'd weigh the truck as a drove out, and charge accordingly.
Just not needing to carry rocks any further than a few feet was worth it to me.
The cost was a fraction of LFSs.
The company I went to had everything from Texas Holey rock, to granite to sandstone, and in every shape and size.
 
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Well I'm very close to being a geologist, rocks are good to go. The clear is quartz so that's inert. If you are ever doing a fizz test you should scratch the surface of the rock prior to adding the acid. Calcite will fizz without the scratch which is caco3 however dolomite is also a calcitic rock and will not fizz unless its powdered as its MgCa(co3)2. Send me a better picture there's a high sheen on the rocks tough to see. To me looks to be a volcanic glass with quartz intrusions and phenocrts.
 
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