Rocks From The Yard????

[kevbc03]

Hi, have a piranha tank and i was wondering if i can use some of the rocks that can be found in the yard.
Actually i remember reading somewhere that some rocks can mess up the water chemistry and i was wondering if anybody knew what types of rocks were safe for aquarium use.

 

[ewurm]

Most igneous or metamorphic rocks would be OK. If it won't dissolve in your tank it's usually good. Put some vinegar on the rock. If it doesn't fizz, you should be good

 

[kevbc03]

Thank you very much ewurm, i never knew you could test a rock using vineger!!

 

[cassharper]

or even better, use the bottle #2 from an API nitrate test kit, much stronger acid and will let you know much easier.

 

[gomezladdams]

Ive got lots of rock from my yard in my tanks.Slate,shale and northern bluestone all over the place. I wash them then leave them in the sun a few days.

 

[LesleyFish]

Just make sure there are no rust colored veins within the rock as they can leak metals such as iron into the water which is hazardous to fish. I often use rocks in my cichlid tanks with great success the vinegar or #2 ammonia kit testing is great, lemon juice also works. Just remember to thoroughly clean the rocks, I used to boil them but now use an extremely diluted bleach solution and soak them for a day, and then a few days in a bucket of water with frequent scrubbing to remove the bleach.

 

[Bichir4Life]

Stay away from sandstone they will disolve and have lots of metals in them. Just make sure you wash very well i like my dishwasher just make sure there is no soap or jetdry and toss it on sanitize!

 

[RedAlkiestarte]

I used river rocks from a river by my house in my amazon tank. I think it gives a real nice natural look to it. What I did was cleaned then in an very diluted bleach solution then baked them at 500o for 45minutes. Just what ever you do DO NOT PUT WATER ON THEM! This is not from expierence but I just had to say it because Im sure someone somewhere would put a 500o rock right in the tank and BOOM!

 

[XxPrudencexX]

or even better, use the bottle #2 from an API nitrate test kit, much stronger acid and will let you know much easier.[/quote

i never knew that, im going to try it

 

[ChannelCat]

i got rocks from the river behind my house and it gives a great natural look. I brought them in and cleaned them, then i boiled them for about 15 minutes and ive never had a problem