Pebbles For Tank

[Lord Fishheart]

I am looking to get myself another tank and go with the following design http/www.zooplus.de/bilder/1/62527_hagen..._ganzschw_1.jpg

Saw this in a brochure and loved it.

My question is my local aquatics shop sells these pebbles, but they are quite expensive. If I sourced some from elsewhere i.e a builders yard etc how would I treat them so they would be safe for my aquarium?

Grateful for any advice

 

[raptorrex]

I am looking to get myself another tank and go with the following design [URL="http/www.zooplus.de/bilder/1/62527_hagen..._ganzschw_1.jpg"]http/www.zooplus.de/bilder/1/62527_hagen..._ganzschw_1.jpg[/URL]

Saw this in a brochure and loved it.

My question is my local aquatics shop sells these pebbles, but they are quite expensive. If I sourced some from elsewhere i.e a builders yard etc how would I treat them so they would be safe for my aquarium?

Grateful for any advice

wash em, and put them in. unless they show signs if iron being present, if so discard them. a good rinse in boiling water is all you need.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yeah you can get those sorts of rocks from garden centres or builders merchants and they should be fine

as boboboy said if they contain iron (have red streaks running through them) then don't get them. Also do a vinegar test, drop a little drop ona rock, if it fizzes then it's not suitable, if it does nothign at all then it's fine.

Stick them in a big pan and boil them for 20 mins or so to kill off any nasties and then you're good to go

 

[huckFIN]

I've just bought some fantastic silver granite 'rocks' from my local builders merchants. It's basically a light grey colour with black speckles and looks ten times better when wet/underwater. It was cheap as well - 99p for three pieces - so I bought 15 pieces. If I'd bought this in a LFS it would've cost a bomb! Most of the pieces are slightly flattened as well so I'll be able to build one or two arches.
Can't wait to get my tank up and running.

 

[raptorrex]

with respect to miss wiggle, i would avoid boiling rocks, apart from it not being needed, there is the chance that some may explode. not something you want. if there is anything in there that needs boiling to get rid of, you really don't want it in your tank. IMHO

 

[pippoodle]

with respect to miss wiggle, i would avoid boiling rocks, apart from it not being needed, there is the chance that some may explode. not something you want. if there is anything in there that needs boiling to get rid of, you really don't want it in your tank. IMHO

i usually pour boiling water over stuff for the tank instead of boiling it- and i always do it in the garden
so that might be another idea

 

[raptorrex]

with respect to miss wiggle, i would avoid boiling rocks, apart from it not being needed, there is the chance that some may explode. not something you want. if there is anything in there that needs boiling to get rid of, you really don't want it in your tank. IMHO

i usually pour boiling water over stuff for the tank instead of boiling it- and i always do it in the garden
so that might be another idea

indeed as i said, a good rinse with boiling water!