What rocks to use that are CHEAP?

[ddaddy]

I went to my local aquarist shop today to buy a 1mtr ship wreck, and i wanted some rocks that will just be covered in sand to make a sort of 2 tier effect in my tank to put half the shipwreck on. The rocks they had where £5 per kilo, which was around £10 per rock and i would need several of them. I thought this was rediculous!!

I could easily get the same effect i want using some house bricks, but i know that chemical composition comes into play when using rocks.

Does anyone know of anything i could use instead, like could i use a plastic food box? Does anyone know of any particular rock i can buy that would be cheap?

Thanks

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

I'm using slate I picked up at a garden centre. They had some random large pieces too and I've built some hidey holes for the cats. So long as it's boiled clean and you can check for icky substances with vinegar. If it bubbles don't use it!
I got a bag of big pieces for under £10 and the large random bits were £10 for three of any size/shape of my choice. Heavy duty materials sold at garden centres that specialise in the rock/stone and likewise usually have brilliant items.
Hugs,
P.

 

[IMCL85]

come on buddy if u have tool just pick some rock from area where not alot of dog cat hang arround(they might poo/pee on them ). And bring it home boil it like mad mean at least 2 weeks of daily 3-4 time of boiling like leave it there for an hour and then boil it again. So just boil them like mad and at night before bed time boil it once more and leave it till tomorrow morning and then boil again repeat this for 2 weeks and then before u dump it in u could also treat it with white spot midican just incase. Its the cheapest way to get rock and I use my tool at home where I could put holes in the rock. Better then spend $5 per KG .

 

[rdd1952]

Slate works well and is available from almost any landscape supplier. If you get it at a LFS, make sure you scrape any dried mortar/cement off of it and also boil it. Most of what I have seen at these places is what I would call "reclaimed" product, i.e., it has been someones patio at one time, then taken up and sold for scrap. Also, if you get the bigger pieces and break it into smaller ones, don't be upset if it doesn't break where you want it to because chances are it won't. Just use your imagination and make caves, etc from what ever pieces you end up with.

 

[ddaddy]

Thanks very much for the help, i will go looking for some slate as this seems to be the favourite.

As long as it passes the vinegar test, can you use any rock/brick?

Has anyone used house bricks?

 

[tttnjfttt]

You can also use sand. I bougth enough sand for my 20 gal and had enough left over to do about three more tanks for like $3 US.

 

[orientmatt]

when i set up my tank i just went and got loads of rocks from the garden

 

[Wiggler 1]

I was reading about rocks ...you might be interested in this
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=55806
very interesting to know hope this will help you..
I do beleive cement is made of calcium or limestone not sure
which is a nono in tanks.