Rocks From A Local Stream ?

[Annaconda]

I found some nice rocks in the stream out back, and was wondering if I could possibly put them in my AFC tank? How would I clean them to make sure there okay? Is there any kind of rocks that I shouldnt use?

Thanks
Ann

 

[rdd1952]

You would need to boil them to remove any bad bacteria or parasites that might be on them. You also need to do a vinegar test on them. Put a drop or 2 of vinegar on them. If it fizzes, it will raise your pH and probably shouldn't be in your tank.

 

[Captain Retardo]

Check out this article: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=55806

After you positively identified the rock (hopefully a safe rock) the way to clean it would be to boil it, I'm not sure for how long, but I'm guessing 10-15 min would surely do the trick

BTW - What does AFC stand for?

 

[Annaconda]

Was a typo I meant ACF ( african clawed frog)

Thanks for the link !

 

[Bignose]

I think that boiling and roasting and all that is overrated and dangerous. If you boil the rock, there could be a trapped pocket of air/gas that when you heat it up, the pressure will go up and it could burst. 1) your rock will look nothing like it did before, but 2) flying rock fragments are very dangerous.

A little common sense is all that is needed. Firstly, the minerals should be identified like in that linked article. But, so long as you didn't take the rock from a stream behind the renderer's plant or a tire plant or some other polluter, it is fine. Sit the rock out somewhere up off the ground and let it dry out. Drying out will kill any fish-specific pathogens that could be on the rock. If you really feel a need to clean more, bleach can be used. Just wash the rock in some water treated with like 10 times the normal amont of dechlorinator after. The dechlorinator neuttralizes the chlorine in the bleach.

But, really, fish have been living in streams with rocks in them, oh, pretty much forever, and a rock in your aquarium is not going to cause apocalypse.