rocks for an aquarium and other questions

N

newfishkeepper

AC Members
Dec 2, 2009
37
0
0
38
gday, i just got a new new 250L (about 66G i think) tank and im looking to set it up this weekend. I have access to about 50 kg of basalt, slate and grannite as we recently did a big overhall of the garden. The rocks came from a combination of garden shops and a friends place up in the bush. Would these be useable in the tank, if so is there anythingi should do b4 adding them ?

in addition i was looking to add some plants, what would you recommend for a begginer tank. im thinking java ferns, anubias and tiger lotus.
as i was told all of these are easy to care for ?

any other recomendations will be greatly appretiated
 
The rocks should be fine. I always soak mine in vinegar for a while before putting them in the tank, to watch for reactions. I did have 1 that the white veins started to disolve out of the rock, so I didn't put it in.

The plants sound like good choices.

I recommend you read up on cycling a fish tank, so you have an idea what you are getting into before you start this project. That will keep you from killing fish on accident! (and by recommend I mean i STRONGLY suggest you do it.)

Gday, and gnite mate!
(although it is probably still early where you are, but I am going to bed!)
 
so soak the whole rock in vinegar ? for how long ?

ive done cycles b4 in 10g and 20g tanks before so i kinda know what im doin (thought im researching anywhere been out of the hobby for 5 years). just gonna set up the plants/rocks/driftwood why the cycle continues.
 
most vinegars are to weak to give a good indication actually. i would just scrub them with hot water and bleach, air dry and go for it.
 
I would do the vinegar test and also fishless cycle the tank.

When I did the vinegar test on some small rocks that I was thinking of putting in my tank the vinegar did react with the rocks and started to fizz so I did not use them (although I did find one that did not fizz and put it in but took it out later because it looked ugly).
 
I would boil the rocks first and give it a good scrubbing. as for plants and idea's....i would do a java moss back wall.
 
I don't boil just because I am scared of them blowing up, but I will boil water, and poor it over them in the sink, add bleach, soak. Then I take them out rinse, and use decolranator on them. I spelled that so bad, LOL!
 
I learned my lesson on the vinager test, bought a rock from a LFS that assured me it was safe for freshwater- I just washed the rock and put it in the tank. Next day my tank was cloudy. Pulled the rock out, several water changes later the tank cleared up- then did the vinager test- the rock just about disolved in my hand. Wish I had known about it before.
 
A few hours in the vinegar should be enough. You do have to give it time for the reaction to take place.

I also have a buddy who owns a rock store, so I go ask him when I find rocks on the ground. We found a couple he recommended I leave out of the tank.
 
If you're 100% sure on your ids the rocks are all fine. The vinegar test is to check for limestone which could raise the pH and hardness of your water. This could be a problem for fish which require soft water and low pH.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom