What is the best source for a rock feature?

isnt there a vinegar trick for rocks? If you put vinegar on it and it bubbles then dont use it. At least thats what I remember hearing.

What size tank are you using?? Also your back yard....well at least for me cause I have 3 acres of galacial rocks that are river rock in my yard. Yeah there is a vinegar trick but can't remeber it.

Hmm if you don't want it to affect your Ph then avoid limestone and texas holey rock. I've used granite in my tank without a problem, many people use slate. You can get both at a rock supply place.

Also look at home depot thats where i got my slate!

best rocks are sold in the 2 ada shops, but with the amount of money they charge you did think there are gold in there....

http://www.adana-usa.com/index.php?main_page=afa_product&cPath=7_14

and those prices are before shipping!!! LOL!

as for the pH testing, you will want to check random rocks both ways.

If vinegar bubbles up, than the rock is alkaline. if the rock bubbles using a baking soda paste, the rock is acidic. in either case, the rock will affect the pH of your tank.

Most any rock you find in an aquarium store will be good to use, as it "should" be inert. sadly, that option is usually overpriced.

At the rock store, you can look for "field stone". a friend used that in his 75 cichlid tank. he stacked pieces in a way to make lots of little caves and hiding places and it looks awesome. but that may not be practical for a planted tank.

Driftwood should be whatever you like, same as the rocks. there is no right way or wrong way. Some woods may leach tanins for a while that will color the water. one way to help with that is to boil the wood a couple times, changing out the water each time. if the tank water still turns color, some charcoal in the filter will help with that.

in general, avoid rocks that appear rusted or corroded in any way as that is a sign of metals you won't want in the water column. if in doubt, put the rock/s into a vessel of water for a few weeks and look for anything that looks off.

I have to ask... what's Texas Holey Rock? It sounds like its a limestone or calcified rock?

And, I've read a suggestion that the chemical in the " pH down" product is a strong enough acid that it will react with an inappropriate rock. Unfortunately, vinegar often isn't strong enough to show any reaction, even when the rock in question is not a good choice, because in the long term, submerged in the aquarium, it will leach chemicals that will throw off the water parameters.

HTH,
Jane

I am curious what Texas Holey Rock is also!