Rocks from drainage ditch

[toehead11183]

My dad works in construction and many of his jobsites have tons of limestone in the drainage ditches to prevent erosion. Many of these sites are in the city and the runoff what flows through these ditches comes from neighborhood sidewalks, roads and other places and may carry contaminants such as rubber, auto fluids, pesticides, herbacides etc.. my question is: what are the odds/risks of these rocks absorbing these chemicals and contaminating my tank after i wash them? I dont think limestone is porous enough to hold these chemicals but i want to make sure.

 

[fsubulldogs]

i dont know, i personally wouldnt use them just because i dont like to take big risks especially if i have fish that i really like. but if you wanted to i would say boil them and scrub them to try and remove any contaminants that might be on there and then i guess you could try it. good luck if you do

 

[Druu]

Limestone is extremely porous and has the potential to absorb all of the contaminants that you mentioned. I would not recommend use of possibly contaminated limestone in your tank.

 

[Fish Eat Fish]

Yea thats sounds a little risky. When I put rocks in my tank I usually throw them on a baking sheet in the oven at 400 degrees for an hour or two. This seems more effective as the rocks reach a temp twice as high as boiling. Also this way you dont have to find a huge pot for doing multiple rocks...they just have to fit in the oven.

EDIT: This process will not remove contaminants. Will only help to sterilize

 

[Oni Angel-Hannya]

I had the bad luck of putting rocks in my tank one time that had IRON VEINS in them!!Noticed it from all the little rust-like spots on the glass!Spiked my algae but never killed my fish. So to answer your ?,i would spend the money and either go artificial or buy them from a reputable masonry company that would know the EXACT mineral/metal content of the rock they sell.

 

[scadarette]

The limestone will mess up your PH levels, I found this out the hard way.........

 

[titansfever83]

I also work in construction. We are building the next section of I-840 on the west side of Nashville. Our environmental division found some rock in with the limestone that they use for haul roads and it contained 'pyrite' a.k.a. 'Fools Gold'. Pyrite will kill any and all aquatic life. The state immediately demanded the prime contractor to remove all pyrite or be fined and kicked off the job.

Be careful what you use. If it is in a river or stream and there are fish swimming around then go for it but clean it before using just to eliminate anything harmful to your fish.

 

[Bluegill]

I got all my rocks from the Farmington River near the shore and I boiled everyone of them for a minute. Will my bass be safe with them?

 

[toehead11183]

The limestone will mess up your PH levels, I found this out the hard way.........

its for african cichlids. good for me!

 

[gomezladdams]

Not a great Idea.Any chance you can get the rocks before they go into the ditches?Fresh from the quarry or just dug up rocks at an excavation site would be better