Boiling rocks and gravel?

[Blue Ram]

Does Boiling the rocks and gravel destroy the velvet parasites completly?

Patriot

[shockshockshad]

Yes but they will explode.

[smaug]

Yes but they will explode.Explode?why?

[shockshockshad]

I have heard that if you boil rocks they will explode.

[smaug]

i could see that happening if you put them in a fire.But I guess its somewhat possible by boiling.Patriot,a mild bleach solution would also wipe out any nastys in or on your rocks,its not as dangerous as it sounds just rinse it real good with freshwater.

[sailor]

I have heard of this happening but I have never had any rocks explode during the boiling process. I have had them crack and fall apart afterwards if I cooled them down too quickly. To play it safe I bring them to just under the boil for about 15 mins then turn the heat off and let them cool down before I soak them in dechlorinated water. This process should destroy any living things on them.

[Blue Ram]

Ok, I got them boiled and right now i have my heater, powerhead and fake plants soaking in my tank in a mild bleach solutuion!

[Sasquatch]

Rocks won't explode if you boil them properly. Put them in when the water is cold and heat then up at the same time as the water. Let them cool down in the water too.

Also, you probably already know this ... but after you've rinsed the tank out a few times, run some charcoal in your filter for a few days to get rid of any traces of bleach.

[Blue Ram]

Rocks won't explode if you boil them properly. Put them in when the water is cold and heat then up at the same time as the water. Let them cool down in the water too.

Also, you probably already know this ... but after you've rinsed the tank out a few times, run some charcoal in your filter for a few days to get rid of any traces of bleach.

What do you mean by charcoal? Are you talking about the black cubes used for barbecues?

[sailor]

I am sure he means carbon.

[Sasquatch]

What do you mean by charcoal? Are you yalking about the black cubes used for barbecues?

Sorry, activated carbon.

The black stuff in a mesh bag that takes forever to clean. :hmm3grin2orange:

[Adrian]

Geez, and I thought this was some kind of recipe.....:18:

I have boiled rocks before without problems. Just as stated above, start with cool water, add rocks, heat to a boil...NOT a roaring boil, but just a boil, at 212 degrees, then turn water down to a simmer, for about 2 minutes, take off the heat and let em cool naturally. Usually, you won't have a single living organism left on the rock, unless of course you got it from Yellowstone national park in one of the hotsprings, but that is another matter......

[jphonger]

i have heard that baking your rocks in an oven can be a bad idea, and that they can bust apart if there is any moisture trapped inside of them..

as far as boiling goes... i suppose that they might break if boiled too fast or long, or dropping cold rocks into hot water. Having them inside of a pot with plenty of water should be safe, and shouldn't cause them to break.

I just boiled some rocks last week with no trouble... I put the rocks in a pot, added cold water, brought them all to a boil, and then let them cool...

Just make sure that you acid test the rocks so that they don't cause ph issues.
You do this by putting a few drops of concentrated acid on the rocks to see if they fizz. if it fizzes than the rocks will cause the ph of the tank to go up....
some people use vinegar, but it is low concentration. I used muriatic acid that is available in most hardware stores.

[SkarloeysMom]

Yes, running the carbon in your tank will take care of any residual bleach and since you have to cycle the tank all over again it will def. be gone before you put fish in there again.

I know must be a little worried about the velvet but my thought is that bleaching and boiling are probably extreme measures to take again velvet reinfection. I'm betting that just rinsing and scrubbing everything in super hot tap water and then setting it out to dry would be enough to kill the parasite. I'm really doubting that it could live out of water.

[Blue Ram]

I have the tank running again ,but i noticed that everything i soaked in the mild bleach solution is covered in little bubbles does that mean there is still bleach?

[Sasquatch]

If you used tap water to rinse the tank, it's probably the chlorine and other gases coming out of solution. Just agitate the water to get the bubbles off so they pop at the surface.

[Incredulous_Ed]

Supposedly, if you boil a rock that was found in a river or stream or other body of water and was there for a while it will explode. They say the capor inside the rock has no where to go so it bursts. Dont know how true it is.

[Colin]

I have boiled rocks (Sandstone) in a pressure cooker for 5 mins on full steam. No problem.

I honestly cant comprehend how a rock could explode when boiled, I know its been said before (about boiling rocks) but still, I think the word explode may be misplaced and should read fracture or crack. I mean, if I had an iron couldron full of boiling water I wouldnt fear for my life if I threw a big rock in. Suppose depends on the rock but even so?? I cant see it exploding.