Stones Collected From A River, How To Ensure They Are Safe?

[KirkyArcher]

I've just Collected some nice cobble size stones from my local river http/www.nwl.co.uk/your-home/environment/river-wear.aspx with the intention of using them in my aquariums, (prices in LFS are I think extortionate)
So far I've scrubbed them, scalded them with boiling water, scrubbed them again, tested with acetic acid for any fizzing (nothing) had then in the oven 200 °C for over an hour and they are currently sat in a bucket of hot water, is there anything else I need to consider (tests/treatments) before placing them in my tanks or would anyone advise not even considering using them?
 
 

 

[DrRob]

No massive tests that will help you.
 
Consider looking for metallic veins or obvious crystals, as they may slowly dissolve and cause trouble.
 
Done now, but for the record, some waterways require permission for the waterways agency (whatever it's called) or the land owner to collect from.
 
My latest plan with stone collection was to get hold of some granite cobbles for landscaping and use those in a riverine tank, but the OH doesn't know about that plan yet.

 

[Ch4rlie]

A decent idea, i did think of that when first got my main tank but was not sure would be safe but now know its possible....
 
Was thinking I could use roof slates?
 
Break them up and use like a gravel covering for a shrimp tank or at least a bit of the tank. Could even make a cave with a couple bits of slate.............hmmm 

 
 
Free since got some in back yard!

 

[coolie]

I often put rocks and things in my tank after a clean or a dip in permanganate solution or just a good wash.
 
I'm more of a stickler for washing my hands before feeding fish, and washing my arms before putting a hand in the tank. You
may have quickly scratched your nose (?) or even your back-side (you do that in your sleep you know) and then feed your fish. It's just not right.

 

[sputnick]

I pick rocks out of the tree lines behind my house all the time. This is the process I normally use to clean them. 
 
1. Soak them in water for 15-20 minutes
2. Use a stiff bristle brush and scrub them down good then rinse them well
3. Soak again for 15-20 minutes in a mixture of water and bleach. about 10% bleach
4. scrub them again and rinse extremely well.
 
I have yet to have a problem with any of my tanks and every stone that I have had in my tanks came from the field or tree line and went through this process. 

 

[ky*weremiej]

I have loads of pebbles ant rocks from river in my tank, soaked for 24 hour scrubbed and then soaked for another 24 hour and it worked for me, by what other people have wrote maybe I went ott on the soaking lol

 

[sputnick]

I have loads of pebbles ant rocks from river in my tank, soaked for 24 hour scrubbed and then soaked for another 24 hour and it worked for me, by what other people have wrote maybe I went ott on the soaking lol

lol well not necessarily. I use bleach to kill all the bad bacteria that could be living on the rock. Other people use the boiling water to kill off the bacteria. Soaking it for that long should kill any bacteria that need oxygen to live. But personally.. I'd switch to a method like mine where it only takes an hour or so instead of days lol

 

[DrRob]

Oh, worth mentioning that taking stones over 100C for any length of time does have a possibility of making them blow up if they have any water pockets. This is why we throw boiling water over then rather than boiling them. Generally you'll get away with it fine, but anyone who's done any pottery will tell you that rock based stuff can be prone to randomly exploding under heat.

 

[snazy]

Boiling water is enough. Even less than that at 60C will kill everything as good as bleach would without the risk of bleach getting into the rock and harm the inhabitants later.
You can also dry them completely if you want.
Then providing the rocks are inert then you should be fine.
 Our fish tanks are far from sterile. The point is to keep the water quality up so the fish don't get succeptible to harmful stuff that's always lurking around, even from air. And the possibility of introducing good bacteria with new rocks is as likely as introducing bad bacteria.

 

[ky*weremiej]

 

I have loads of pebbles ant rocks from river in my tank, soaked for 24 hour scrubbed and then soaked for another 24 hour and it worked for me, by what other people have wrote maybe I went ott on the soaking lol

lol well not necessarily. I use bleach to kill all the bad bacteria that could be living on the rock. Other people use the boiling water to kill off the bacteria. Soaking it for that long should kill any bacteria that need oxygen to live. But personally.. I'd switch to a method like mine where it only takes an hour or so instead of days lol
 

will be doing next time lol

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

200C for over an hour in the oven... You were lucky not to have a miniture bomb go off in your kithcen, heating rocks like that is extrememly dangerous!

 

[KirkyArcher]

Yeah I worried about that too, though in my defence they weren't just put in cold into a hot oven they came from boiling water and temperature was increased to 200  °C slowly (and I got away with it) though risk is noted and I won't be doing it again 

  Thank everyone for your input