Rock\stone clear coating and cleaning them
- Thread starter Anomic
- Start date
Cracks in rocks that fill with detrius are not going to go "toxic", you will just grow a nice algae layer and make them look more natural. Like said before, if you don't like it, scrub it off.
Also, rocks with some iron in them are not toxic. I have use granite pea gravel for years in tanks that left rust stains on the glass and all fish have thrived.
I have picked "safe" rocks from rivers, beaches, etc. such as granite and sandstone, and just scrubbed them clean and added to my tanks. Never any problems.
If you are worried about getting aquarium safe rocks go to your LFS and buy some there, they should all be OK.
I see no purpose in sealing them either.
Burt
Also, rocks with some iron in them are not toxic. I have use granite pea gravel for years in tanks that left rust stains on the glass and all fish have thrived.
I have picked "safe" rocks from rivers, beaches, etc. such as granite and sandstone, and just scrubbed them clean and added to my tanks. Never any problems.
If you are worried about getting aquarium safe rocks go to your LFS and buy some there, they should all be OK.
I see no purpose in sealing them either.
Burt
Burtess is right. 99.9% will not harm water when you place them in it... think about it: They've all been rained on, underwater, or exposed to ground water for CENTURIES. And yet they are still here. They are not water soluble which means they will NOT affect water chemistry. The few that I would not put into my aquarium are pyrite aka fools gold (FeS), hematite (iron ore) and alum. But pretty much if you find it in a lake or river it will be safe.
As for coating them if you really want to, I'd use polyester resin (the type used for fiberglass epoxy) Its relativley cheap, and you know its safe once cured becuase there arent hundreds of people with dead fish in plywood/fiberglass composite tanks. Make sure to let it cure for a good long while before putting it in your tank. If you want it to be "not shiny" rough it up with a very fine grit sandpaper, just start with the finest grit you can and go from there.
Conclusion:
1. 99.9% rocks = NON-toxic
2. If you must coat use a polyester resin, let it cure then rough it up with a very fine grit sandpaper
As for coating them if you really want to, I'd use polyester resin (the type used for fiberglass epoxy) Its relativley cheap, and you know its safe once cured becuase there arent hundreds of people with dead fish in plywood/fiberglass composite tanks. Make sure to let it cure for a good long while before putting it in your tank. If you want it to be "not shiny" rough it up with a very fine grit sandpaper, just start with the finest grit you can and go from there.
Conclusion:
1. 99.9% rocks = NON-toxic
2. If you must coat use a polyester resin, let it cure then rough it up with a very fine grit sandpaper
i think the veins(many layers stake together) have iron , so there a risk it will look all rusty instead off the nice veins. Don't remember what rock react and give a higher ph becose i will put tetra in the tank after i have install a aqua plant system. What i think i have for now his, slate, Montreux, limestone, granite, sandstone, go to to confirm that tomorrow for you. i will use one
even with the "magic rocks filled with crack" argument im not going to worry about this...
however...
why not just use silicone.. if you do a good job of putting it on it wont look like crap...
however...
why not just use silicone.. if you do a good job of putting it on it wont look like crap...
Anomic, I didn't answer sooner since I thought other members could give you a straight answer, oh well.
See if this product is available in BC...
http://www.westsystem.com/
Contact them about a de-glosser for the shine. It give it a mat finish and in water looks natural.
If not, search for a similar one that is, your looking for one that can take full continuous immersion, some marine (boat) products can't take that and get milky, so question the manufacturer.
Heating (warning! flammable & toxic fumes, don't do this indoors and have plenty of ventilation, ask manufacturer about temps) the product will thin it and allow it to penetrate the cracks/crevises and soft dissolvable materials. Heat the rock some also.
Dr Joe
.
See if this product is available in BC...
http://www.westsystem.com/
Contact them about a de-glosser for the shine. It give it a mat finish and in water looks natural.
If not, search for a similar one that is, your looking for one that can take full continuous immersion, some marine (boat) products can't take that and get milky, so question the manufacturer.
Heating (warning! flammable & toxic fumes, don't do this indoors and have plenty of ventilation, ask manufacturer about temps) the product will thin it and allow it to penetrate the cracks/crevises and soft dissolvable materials. Heat the rock some also.
Dr Joe
.
I have a question. I have been accumulating lots of rock off free-cycle for my tank. Some of these rocks look awesome, as they've all been used as landscaping rocks and are of interesting formations.
How much should I worry about any chemicals on/in these rocks from being in peoples yards? Who know what kind of herbicides and/or pesticides might have been sprayed on them or God knows what else. The people I got them from said they weren't sprayed, "as far as they know". None of these people were the original owners of the properties. But it sounds like these rocks had a least 3-5 years of weathering with out chemical exposure.
If they ever were sprayed, do you think 5 years of sitting in the weather is enough to flush/break down anything that might have been sprayed on them?
The rock pile I have is about 5ft by 5ft by3ft high. I wouldn't be interested in coating them with anything
How much should I worry about any chemicals on/in these rocks from being in peoples yards? Who know what kind of herbicides and/or pesticides might have been sprayed on them or God knows what else. The people I got them from said they weren't sprayed, "as far as they know". None of these people were the original owners of the properties. But it sounds like these rocks had a least 3-5 years of weathering with out chemical exposure.
If they ever were sprayed, do you think 5 years of sitting in the weather is enough to flush/break down anything that might have been sprayed on them?
The rock pile I have is about 5ft by 5ft by3ft high. I wouldn't be interested in coating them with anything
