What can I do with these rocks?

[ThaDude]

They've been in a bucket with this metal strainer and water for about 6 months. Anything I can do to salvage them?

 

[DiXoN]

clean and rinse them thouroughly in lots of fresh new water lots of times.

 

[ThaDude]

The rocks seem to have the same rust going on as the strainer, it might be hard to tell in the pic.

 

[ThaDude]

They definatley do- I boiled some and it did not come off, i don't think just rinsing is enough... any incite?

 

[NUMB3RS]

I wouldnt even bother with those rocks it would take 1 to many rinses. In the long run you might contaminate your own water and kill your fish, others please disagree but this is my opinion...

 

[Ullopincrate]

My motto is if I can't get an overwhelming opinion then I revert to my "why take a chance" rule. I think that's the case here.

 

[andy84]

Basic gravel is relatively cheap. And from what I can tell from the picture that is a small amount of rock. I recommend to pick up another bag. I don't think it would be worth the time and effort to get every last piece of metal out.

 

[ThaDude]

the only thing i could think of is something along the lines of a CLR bath, but I have no idea how much it would then take to get those chemicals out of the rocks.
I wouldn't mind normally (they've been there six months, obviously) I just came up a little short while filling my new 20gal, and cash is a pinch at the moment.

Will trade graphic design for clean gravel! lol.

 

[andy84]

If you are dead set on using that gravel do not use CLR. Only use vineagar and water and brush out everything. Put some elbow grease into it and make sure you rinse everything out. Rinse with a nova aqua type solution with a metal "remover" before putting it in the tank.