Hi all I would like to know if I can take rock from the river and use it in my tank. What should i do for preparation before i put it in my tank ? Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated.
Taking rock from the wild
- Thread starter aquanooby
- Start date
I think you can boil it to sterilize and kill any germs/bacteria. But I'll let someone else give you an more detailed answer because I personally use only store bought rocks. 
Boiling can sometimes result in explosions due to air pockets in the rock. Soak it in 1 part bleach (the unscented stuff with no additives), 10 parts water overnight, then soak in dechlorinated water.
All of the rock in my tanks came from either lakes, rivers, or just plain outside, lol. I do as paperdragon suggested and soak in a bleach solution, give them a good scrub and soak in water with a 3X dose of prime.
Kristina
Kristina
I have used many river rocks that we have collected on outings. I used the bleach and soak method. I've never had any trouble. Some people will say to use acid and make sure they do not break down. I have not done that but a lot of people do. I stay away from rocks that have "sparklies" because I have read they tend to not be stable over time.
Steph
Steph
Make sure it's Solid rock. No flaking or chiping, this type of rock will fall apart in your tank.
