Stones in tank

[gwand]

I would like to add some small stones from my yard into my tank. I was going to sterilize the stones first. I was going to avoid stones with high calcium carbonate levels. Any problems with this plan? Thanks. gwand

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Give them the vinegar test to make sure they won't mess with your pH. If possible, I would strongly recommend showing them to a geologist (your local college, university, or mines department should have somebody that would love to help you out) to see what kind of rocks you have and make sure they're chemically inert.

Generally, as long as you avoid limestone and such, and any toxic minerals, found rocks are fine.

 

[jaylach]

Be VERY careful! If you use any fertilizers and/or insecticides in your yard you could bring these toxins to your tank.

 

[10 Tanks]

I would like to add some small stones from my yard into my tank. I was going to sterilize the stones first. I was going to avoid stones with high calcium carbonate levels. Any problems with this plan? Thanks. gwand

Hello gwand. You can use the old vinegar test on anything that you'd like to put into your tank. I typically put an eyedropper full of vinegar on the piece and wait to see if there's a reaction of any kind. If there's nothing after a couple of minutes, then the piece will be safe for the tank.

10 Tanks

 

[connorlindeman]

The vineger test works, but I like testing with Muriatic Acid. The reaction is much easier to see.

 

[Uberhoust]

The vineger test works, but I like testing with Muriatic Acid

Totally agree on this. Vinegar can have some quite minor reactions to other pH altering minerals such as dolomite, Ca/Mg carbonates.