Can i use actual rocks in my yard

[afireinside]

well, there are a couple of these nice lookin rocks that would look very nice in my tank, but my question is, can i put them in there? i don't want to contamiate the water or anything. if i can, would i have to steralize the water, and take a little water out of the tank and put it in with the rock, and then the next day take all the water out of there and put it in fresh water, and keep doing that till it seems safe?

 

[Teelie]

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=55806

 

[Fish Buddy]

You want to stay away from rocks that crumble, discintegrate or change the water chemistry of you water. Do an acid test first (hydrocloric acid or the like) and if there are no bubbles showing, check with a pocket knife to see if it is hard enough (pocket knife should not be able to scratch the rock) if no scratches are made then the rock is pritty much safe. I always boil my rocks for 15 min to kill bacteria and such.

 

[LoachLover]

First do a acid test on them and make sure they are hard rocks, so they won't crumble once they've been in the tank, that would definately not be good. Part of the reason I just go to the river to get rocks, they usually as.....hard as rock

 

[afireinside]

how do i do an acid test?

 

[Teelie]

Did you not click the link I posted that answered all that?

As a rule of thumb, test the rock with an acid to see if it fizzes. If it does then the rock contains calcium and is unsuitable for aquarium use. I use white vinegar but you can, with the proper precautions and safety gear, use hydrochloric acid.

 

[IovaykInD]

What I do is boil the rocks first. Twice I do it to make sure it is safe. It hasn't had any bad results and I've been doing it for a long time. Try it.

Isaac

 

[william3355393]

this is going overboard!, its a rock !!!....rinse it with water and scrub it and put it in the tank, boiling and doing acid test for ammonia, nitrate , carbon,vinger, SAFETY GEAR, hydrolic acid, this is just silly.
if the rock crumbles into sand like particles dont use it, use hard rocks

 

[RabidChild]

this is going overboard!, its a rock !!!....rinse it with water and scrub it and put it in the tank, boiling and doing acid test for ammonia, nitrate , carbon,vinger, SAFETY GEAR, hydrolic acid, this is just silly.
if the rock crumbles into sand like particles dont use it, use hard rocks

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You should absoutley test any rocks you are putting in your tank, common white vinegar is the easiest. If it bubbles there are minerals in there that can/will change the chemistry of your water when they leech out. As for boiling, you should especially if it's a rock from a local stream or river. They could be carrying bacteria that can harm your fish.

 

[redtailblackshark]

well, all I do when I find rocks, is I boil the rocks, and put them in vinegar, then boil them again. And if their not sandstone or limestone or anything, they are ready to put in my tank!