Collecting Rocks?

darkelf1600

darkelf1600

AC Members
Aug 20, 2006
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Newfoundland
Hey, I was just wondering that if I collect rocks for my aquarium from outside, is there anyway for me to know if they will dissolve in my tank or not? Is there a way to test them? I heard there was a way, but i don't know how.

I'm not great with rocks, so i wouldn't be able to tell from looking at it if it is limestone, granite...whatever...

Oh, and don't worry, before I'd add any rocks to my tank i will boil them first so that i don't introduce anything to my tank.

Thank you to anyone who responds!
 
it sounds funny but pour vinigear over the rocks if they bubble that means they are bleeding minerals and cannot go in your tank
 
I have always soaked mine in a 50/50 water bleach mix for a day or two. Then soak in %100 water for about a month in different bucket. changing the water almost every day for that month.,,,,,,,,,Is this bad? I have never had any problems when I put the rock in the tank. :confused: Never thought about boiling. Much faster but I am in no hurry.
 
Vinigar isn't acidic enough, you need to use hydrocloric acid to test your rocks. Hydrocloric acid can be found in bottle #2 in the aquarium pharmicuetical's nitrate test kit.

However, if your going to be keeping fish wich prefer hard water, you don't really need to worry about it raising your PH and hardening your water, unless it's a huge rock in a small tank wich could change your water chemistry to quickly.

Daniel, natural shells are all made out of the same things and all will affect your water chemistry to one extent or another.
 
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