Using outdoor rocks?

[thecoolguy]

hey guys......

i have come to need some additional large rocks - and i can't really go out and buy them here in china......

so if i find a suitable outdoor rock outside while i am walking around, can i put it in the tank?

the only thing i know how/what to do would be to boil it for like an hour or something......but is this just not safe to do?

thanks.....

[sergo]

you'll need to make sure it's not a rock that will alter your water parameters and you will need to thoroughly clean it.

[Lady Hobbs]

I have stolen a ton of rocks from my apartments landscape. Late at night with my flashlight. LOL

Soak the rocks in vinegar/water solution. If they fizz, toss them out. All others will be fine.

[Chrona]

Try muriatic acid actually (used in pools and to clean concrete - you can buy this at a local hardware store for cheap). Some rocks will not display much (if any) reaction to a weak acid like vinegar. Or at the very least use full strength vinegar.

Some stones also contain lots of silicates that can leech into your water and cause brown algae, so be sure to look up what kinds of rocks you put in.

[Severus]

I have stolen a ton of rocks from my apartments landscape. Late at night with my flashlight. LOL

Soak the rocks in vinegar/water solution. If they fizz, toss them out. All others will be fine.

Hobbs what ratio do you use when you do this. A 50/50 mix of water and vinegar?

[Chrona]

Hobbs what ratio do you use when you do this. A 50/50 mix of water and vinegar?

Full strength. Vinegar is weak enough as is. Some rocks only contains small amounts of carbonates/calcium that doesn't do much if anything when you pour diluted vinegar (or even full strength vinegar) on it, but can change your water parameters over time (or at least give you a headache about unstable parameters)

[Lady Hobbs]

Hobbs what ratio do you use when you do this. A 50/50 mix of water and vinegar?

I use just a bit of water but it's not necessary. As mentioned by chrona, full strength is probably better but adding a dash of water doesn't do any harm, either. Just gives more solution if you're testing a lot of rocks. Rocks bubble immediately if they can't be used.

[Severus]

Thanks. I stole a few large rounded rocks from my neighbors house the other day actually! lol. They are nice and smooth and will look great in my tank. Hopefully they work. Im probably going to do the vinegar test and then soak them and test the water everyday for a few days.

[Lady Hobbs]

My son dug up some beautiful rocks when he was building his new home last year. I can't wait to grab some of those.

[Incredulous_Ed]

I used this oarnge quartz that was in nmy yard that I broke up with a sledgehammer. It came out nice. Pretty much all rocks that are made from quarz are safe.

[cocoa_pleco]

speaking of vinegar, it tastes GOOD. i drink it sometimes. Its kinda weird that i like it

[Severus]

speaking of vinegar, it tastes GOOD. i drink it sometimes. Its kinda weird that i like it

That is absolutely disgusting

[cocoa_pleco]

i dont know what it is, i just like it. I really like the smell of vanilla extract too, but i never drink it (DUH)