River Rocks?

[monica]

Can I use river rocks in my tropical fish tank? They are from a freshwater lake/river. And are just plain rocks/stones.
Would I be able to use them? There should be little if not no pollution, and I do swim in the lake.. Just wondering, because I think it would make a nice addition to my guppy fry tank.

 

[SJ2K]

Give it a really good scrub first, make sure it doesnt react with vinegar and your away

 

[monica]

Well I made sure it did not react with vinegar, all good. Then I scrubbed it under tapwater, and added it to the tank. Well now, I see 2 bubbles at a time coming from one spot on the rock. Smaller than those oxygen bubbles that grow on the tank. Very tiny, and very quickly. It did not react to the vinegar though... Could this be a chemical reaction? Or just it getting used to the water? I have not removed it yet.. Should I?

 

[5teady_2012]

Well I made sure it did not react with vinegar, all good. Then I scrubbed it under tapwater, and added it to the tank. Well now, I see 2 bubbles at a time coming from one spot on the rock. Smaller than those oxygen bubbles that grow on the tank. Very tiny, and very quickly. It did not react to the vinegar though... Could this be a chemical reaction? Or just it getting used to the water? I have not removed it yet.. Should I?

Is there a tiny hole in it? if so it may just have trapped air in it and the pressure from the water is slowly releasing the air.

 

[monica]

I don't know, I can't see anything that tiny lol. They were verrrry small bubbles, so I am guessing it is a pretty small hole. The bubbles have stopped, so I am hoping you were right

 

[5teady_2012]

I don't know, I can't see anything that tiny lol. They were verrrry small bubbles, so I am guessing it is a pretty small hole. The bubbles have stopped, so I am hoping you were right

All it will have been is a small hole (even minute) and the air trapped inside was just releasing, if its stopped now then its ok

btw i always poor boiling hot kettle water over rocks, slate, etc before adding it to the tank, (for future refrence)

 

[monica]

Okay thank you. I will remember that next time

 

[5teady_2012]

Your welcome

 

[Iron Man]

My dad put an empty oyster shell from the local lake once in his tank. It was all great until a really long stringy algae took over his tank that had never been before, and I have never seen before in tanks. I told him it was algae out of the lake from the oyster shell.

I actually liked the algae, but he was a beginner and didn't know how to keep it from taking over his tank.

Anyway I guess my point is it really is a good idea to boil things that came out of the local lakes/ponds.