How to clean rocks?

[Mark Lathrop]

I went on a bit of a rock hunt today on a beach with many rocks on it and found a bunch to bring home with me. Most were ones that go under saltwater when the tide comes in. Is there a good way to clean these babies up so I can get them into my freshwater tank? Is there tests I should do on the rocks?

[Nick_Pavlovski]

There's a thread somewhere else where they talk about seashells going into tanks - probably best to do some similar tests.

I put some basalt pebbles I found on the beach in my goldfish tank years agho, no problems, but I did scrub them with an old toothbrush and heavily rinse them with freshwater first.

[cocoa_pleco]

stick them in a bucket of vinegar. if they foam like rabies, theyre not safe to use. if they dont foam, they should be okay

[tattooedgrahamcracker]

after doing the vinigar test i would boil them for while

[Mark Lathrop]

Thanks everyone. I'll search for that sea-shell thread too. :)

[gm72]

Totally agreed, vinegar then boil just to be sure you aren't introducing any new bacteria/critters/etc.

[fraley]

If any of them are the type with gold veins running through them then you shouldnt use those either... : -)

[Mark Lathrop]

If any of them are the type with gold veins running through them then you shouldnt use those either... : -)

Nope, no gold. Probably a harmful metal. Thanks. :)

[Rockatteer]

This is the very question which brought me to this forum.

I've been collecting stones from our local stream today and wondered about how to prepare them for my aquarium also.

so vinegar and boiling is all it takes?

[RobbieG]

You should test your PH afterwards JIC - but other than that pretty much yup!

[tropfish]

you could leave the rock in a bucket of declorinated water for a week and test the ph in the bucket to see if there's any change.