I've got a bunch of old rocks from all the years of keeping fish. Question is if I had a disease or something in the tank can they stay dormat or anything or am I ok to go ahead and use these in a new tank.
Question on old rocks from old tanks....
- Thread starter BloodThirsty28
- Start date
I'd boil them, but a (smooth) rock isn't going to hold anything. I'd be warry of anything strangely shaped with lots of nooks and crannies.
Funny you posted this question. I was wondering the same thing. I just got a 33 gallon at a garage sale and it came with a big bucket of aquarium gravel. Wasn't sure if I should use it or not. If I do I'll boil it first, but I was thinking about just getting some sand and going that way.
Boiling will kill pretty much everything, but do be aware that if you have a rock with a open spot inside it, boiling it can cause it to explosively shatter. Doesn't happen often, but definitely don't use your best pan.
Soaking rocks or gravel, etc in diluted bleach, followed by a rinse with boiling water and a couple rinses/soaks in dechlorinated water will do the job without worrying about exploding rocks, or scratchign up a good pot.
Soaking rocks or gravel, etc in diluted bleach, followed by a rinse with boiling water and a couple rinses/soaks in dechlorinated water will do the job without worrying about exploding rocks, or scratchign up a good pot.
usually i just use bleach diluted in water. it kills just about everything. then give everything a good rinse and use dechlorinator to get rid of the bleach.
If the rocks have been exposed to copper, boiling will not remove it. It's permanent.
Put the rocks in a small tank for a while with some pond snails. If the snails live, then the rocks are probably safe and copper-free.
Roan
Put the rocks in a small tank for a while with some pond snails. If the snails live, then the rocks are probably safe and copper-free.
Roan
By the bye, most aquarium gravel says "Do Not Boil" on the outside of the bag. Don't know what it does, but I would maybe heed that advice.
