rocks? dont know if this is the rite place to ask.

better to use a stronger acid, like muratic (which can be bought at a hardware store) to test with. For clean-up some say boil, I say never boil a rock ever. Too much heat can cause rocks to explode, literally. I would scrub well and then go for it. If it's a rock with lots of cracks and crevices maybe QT it in a bucket or something for a couple weeks to make sure nothing crawls out of them.

I was nervous about boiling my rocks too. I just scrubbed them good w/ a wire brush and hosed them off, put them right in the tank. I tried boiling a couple and then those old campfire tails kicked in and I decided it wasn't worth the risk.

Are they river rocks, from the river or 'river rocks' from a garden supply or pond shop?

And... don't use soap when scrubbing. Also, I haven't had trouble with boiling rocks, but maybe because at our altitude it takes longer for the water to get really hot. Still, if one is worried, scrubbing may be enough, and maybe douse in hydrogen peroxide, too. If I could get out into the local desert (that surrounds us), I'd look for rocks, too, but I prefer to get mine at Mama's Minerals here in Albuquerque. I get polished/smooth petrified wood, rough but not sharp pieces of jasper (rough for bacteria, but not sharp to avoid injuries to swift-moving fish), and quartz crystal rock (usually purple, blue and/or clear). The jasper I choose from is usually a nice dark red-orange which contrast nicely with the green plants.

i would say, bubbling would be bad, but im no expert

also, wow, i never knew about the dangers of boiling rocks! About 4 or 5 months ago, i went on a boiling freenze with my rocks. luckly everything went well though!