Wild Caught!!!! Rocks

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WarrendaFish

Gambusia
MFK Member
Apr 23, 2009
766
2
18
Massachusetts, U.S.A.
I got some nice blue stone and granite "slabs" from a farm near my house.. I've scrubbed them twice and let them soak over night with salt and hot water. I will give them another scrub, rinse, and shorter soak today.

Is there anything else I need to do before adding the rock to my setup(s)?
 
test them with vinager if it bubbles dont use if it does not they are safe
 
Vinegar will react to sedimentary stone (limestone). If your fish prefer a high pH, a reactive stone will help in keeping a stable high pH. A magnet test will discern if the stone contains high metal (iron) content. These stones should be avoided.
Also avoid granite if it contains any small green to yellow crystalline vugs (pockets). Such vugs may contain arsenic-based minerals. Otherwise, regular block or solid granites will prove to be inert and safe in your tanks.
 
Oddball;3260583; said:
Vinegar will react to sedimentary stone (limestone). If your fish prefer a high pH, a reactive stone will help in keeping a stable high pH. A magnet test will discern if the stone contains high metal (iron) content. These stones should be avoided.
Also avoid granite if it contains any small green to yellow crystalline vugs (pockets). Such vugs may contain arsenic-based minerals. Otherwise, regular block or solid granites will prove to be inert and safe in your tanks.
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why is high iron content bad ? does it leech into the water ? i always thought iron was inert
 
JakeH;3260831; said:
Granite conducts massive amounts of heat. Keep that in mind, as your heater may need some help.
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If you mean that granite is dense and will help keep the tank warm should the heater fail, I agree. Granite, and any non-porous rock, will help stabilize the set temp once the stones reach said temp. However, the same stones will lose heat more quickly in water than out of water.
 
Oddball;3260841; said:
If you mean that granite is dense and will help keep the tank warm should the heater fail, I agree. Granite, and any non-porous rock, will help stabilize the set temp once the stones reach said temp. However, the same stones will lose heat more quickly in water than out of water.
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Yup. Thats kinda what I meant. Granite is a better heat conductor than almost any rock. It's up there with diamonds. It will at first absorb a bunch of heat from the tank water, until the temp equalizes. It just absorbs 2 or 3 times more heat than other rock. His heater will have to work overtime for a while to get the rock heated. With any other type of rock, you wouldn't even notice.
 
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