qustion about rocks

[billy2guns]

I just went out to the local dam and picked some really cool looking rocks. I was wonering, if I boil the rocks can I add them to my tanks? I don't know what type of rocks they are or anything. I don't want to add anything that might harm my fish.

[MandyL]

Yes, boil them slowly (put them in the pot with cool water and allow to heat up, then leave them to slowly cool down again in the same water). Then put a little bit of vinegar on the rock to see if it fizzes. If it fizzes, it will raise your pH and you shouldn't use it. If it doesn't, you're good to go.

[billy2guns]

Awsome tip thanks Mandy.

[Billythefish]

Nice tips mandyl,
Also after doing that, as a 3rd idea fill up a bucket with your tank water add the rocks leave for 24h then do a test on the water, if your test shows normal results ph...ect your good to go

[billy2guns]

The only thing wrong with that (for me) is I don't have a high range PH test kit. They only sell low range kits here up to 7.2 I think. Good idea though.

[Ocellaris]

If you like the rocks a lot, add a C02 diffuser, a cheap one runs about 25 bucks. It's lower the ph some. I added rocks from a Missouri stream and my pH went way up. I added live plants and C02 and back down to low 7s.

[Sasquatch]

Check your test kits for nitrates or nitrites. One of the two should have hydrochloric acid as an ingredient (it'll be in the warnings).

Use that to test your rocks. Hydrochloric acid is much stronger than vinegar, and it'll react to some things that vinegar won't. If it fizzes at all, don't put it into the tank. The fizzing means that there are carbonates in the rock, they'll dissolve and raise the pH of the tank.