using outside rock + seeding question

J

jamiya0727

AC Members
Oct 16, 2007
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I am setting up a new tank. Is it safe to add a rock that used to be in a stream outside? It has been sitting in our garage for years, and yesterday I scrubbed it with a toothbrush to clean it. Do you think this is safe? There are NO FISH in the tank yet.

Second, I have a small established tank. I do not have live plants. Will moving a plastic plant to the new tank make it cycle faster? My gravel in the two tanks are different colors so I don't want to move some gravel, unless it would be sufficient to put some gravel in a container and sink it and then remove it after the tank cycles - would this help the bacteria to grow, or not really?
 
Both tanks are Marineland Eclipse tanks, with the filter built into the hood. The water goes through a charcoal filter first, which are different sizes between the two tanks. Then it goes through a Bio-wheel, which again are different sizes. Is there anything I can do as far as sharing media?

Oh, and there's actually a bit of ammonia in the new tank because I used some water from the baby snail tank, which has yet to cycle. I think I am just going to move a couple snails to the new tank and cycle it with the snails, since they are already living in an uncycled tank which is too small.
 
take some gravel from the established tank, place it in a mesh bag or a piece of old nylon, and hang it in the discharge of the filter in the new tank.
 
The potential problem with the rock is from the fact is has sat in the garage for years. Car exhaust is typical in a garage. Stuff there long enough can pick up stuff.

To be safe I would suggest you boil the rock for a bit and see if you notice a slick forms on the water after you turn off the heat and let it cool some.
 
clean it! never know what it can bring ya!
 
Boiling a rock can cause it to explode! Bad idea! IMO
Click to expand...
I've boiled many a rock and not one exploded. Has this happened to you?

I believe you need an extreme temperature change for this to happen.

I'd boil it.
 
How I boil rocks/stones

How I boil a rock/stone.
Put it in the pot with water, then turn on the heat to boiling point.
To redo the process, I just let the water come to room temp, take out the rock, heat up some new water a bit, then put the stone back in for reboiling.
 
I also boiled my rock that I found in a stream. I boil water first then place the rock inside to boil for 5 minutes or so.

It is also a good idea to do the vinegear test. Take some white vinegear and pour a little on the rocks you want to use. If the vinegear fizzes you dont want to use the rock.
 
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