Rocks from outside in tank

[Bruce Wayne]

I was planning on taking some rocks from my yard and placing them in the tank. I have read you need to boil/clean the rocks and also use vinegar to determine if the rock can be placed in your tank. Is this true?

I would rather ask here before trying to add rocks to my tank and messing it all up.

 

[ar0wan]

I've had inconceivably good luck introducing local cedar and limestone to my tanks. I've never boiled, but would recommend you do. I usually do a hot (and i mean hot) tap water bath overnight, rinse and repeat about three times. Always throws my cycle a curve ball but recovers within days.

BE CAREFUL.

 

[AttackFish]

Boil them an you'll be ok.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Any particular rocks I should avoid?

 

[schaadrak]

Usually calcareous rocks should be avoided as they can raise your pH and hardness. That's where the vinegar test comes in.

 

[da7v9e6]

Boiling rocks is not the smartest thing to do though they can blow up.

 

[shane.s]

not to hijack but i have always wanted to do this with big rocks from the yard and was told by many lfs that it was not a good idea. maybe they just wanted me to buy from them. somthing about making sure it is a inert rock and if not it will be bad for the fish over time. now how do you tell if a rock is inert? i dont know but would sure like to find out. so what is this vinager test and does that tell you if it is inert?

 

[itstrickytorock]

I have shale from outside in my tank, and haven't noticed any effects. I heated water to boiling and poured over them a few times before putting them in my tank. I also tested them with vinegar first, basically you just scratch them with a quarter and then place a drop of vinegar in the scrape - if it fizzes, no good, if nothing happens, go ahead and use it (read that on another fish forum).