Rock identification

[jjohnwm]

It's fine,

14.3. Rocks - Aquarium Science

Summary of Rock Data ALL rocks and stones you will find in your rock yard, yard, or the local stream are fine just as is (i.e. no boiling or bleach), including those that bubble with acids like vinegar. Shells and corals are also perfectly safe with no treatment as are almost all gemstones...

aquariumscience.org

Awesome! I love it! That fellow addresses all the nonsense we hear about rocks in the aquarium in a very entertaining manner. I especially liked his common-sense explanation of the "danger" of boiling rocks. I've read that one so many times that I never really stopped to think about how obviously impossible that so-called "danger" actually was; probably because the idea of boiling rocks seemed so idiotic that it didn't bear much thought to begin with.

Bravo!

 

[TBout86]

Preferred method to sterilize rocks?
I have heard a bleach solution with watwe

also have heard of a water and peroxide solution

all followed by baking

now the rocks I found were at a local rock yard, not in water. All from the ground.
Let me know what you all would do.

 

[Dutchaj]

I just rinse or spray down pretty well. There’s no need to bake, peroxide won’t hurt but isn’t necessary.

 

[Something Fishy Here]

I'm no expert but the ones i found out back i just rinsed with warn water and rubbed the mud off. Worked fine for me.

 

[jjohnwm]

Preferred method to sterilize rocks?
I have heard a bleach solution with watwe

also have heard of a water and peroxide solution

all followed by baking

now the rocks I found were at a local rock yard, not in water. All from the ground.
Let me know what you all would do.

There is no need whatsoever to "sterilize" rocks. They will not under any circumstances be breeding in your aquarium. If, however, you are attempting to "disinfect" them...well, there's no reason for that either. A construction site is not normally crawling with fish parasites and pathogens, so what do you suppose you will be achieving?

A quick rinse under the tap, perhaps a quick cleaning with a stiff brush to remove dried mud, etc. and then you're set.

Marine hobbyists pay big bucks for live rock...i.e. rock that is liberally coated with living matter, both animal and vetetable, collected from wild marine environments. They don't worry too much about possible pathogens, and rarely need to. Those dry-as-death stones you picked up in a construction site are not going to infect your fish with anything.

 

[TBout86]

Again, thank you all for the advice. I know my path now, much simpler.

 

[aussieman57]

I've been collecting rocks & driftwood for tanks for years. All my tanks in the 80's & 90's were stocked/aquascaped from whatever I could find. A quick rinse is all they ever got. The fish in your tank carry a lot more pathogens than any rock you are going to find. In case you are wondering about wood here is the link for that too...
https://aquariumscience.org/index.php/14-10-wood/