What rocks are safe to use? Rocks that wont adjust PH or anything else in the water? I do not want top spend $12.00 for a peice at the pet shop. Can I get the rocks from a local Palnt Nursery?
Thanks
Thanks
Rocks?
- Thread starter Sal329
- Start date
I've heard of people going to a nursery to find rocks for their aquariums, but there was also concern of pesticides being used. I'm sure that with a good rinsing, that wouldn't be a problem though.
Also, if there's a landscape rock dealer near by, you can buy a lot of rocks (we're talking 30 lbs.) for very cheap (5-$10).
As far as I know, slate, granite, and zebra rock won't affect your ph. I'm sure there are others, but those are the only ones I have that don't.
HTH,
Serg
Also, if there's a landscape rock dealer near by, you can buy a lot of rocks (we're talking 30 lbs.) for very cheap (5-$10).
As far as I know, slate, granite, and zebra rock won't affect your ph. I'm sure there are others, but those are the only ones I have that don't.
HTH,
Serg
Is slate the stuff that fractures extremely easily, or is that shale? I was washing some cool rocks i was looking at for my future DP tank, and they were chipping off like mad in the water, but i still want to use them.
I was told once to pour vinegar on the rocks and if it bubbled you don’t want to put it in the tank. I am not sure what mineral, etc, that was testing though.
I went out to a friend’s farm and found a bunch of rocks for my tank. Thus far no problems.
I went out to a friend’s farm and found a bunch of rocks for my tank. Thus far no problems.
I got 30lbs of granite at a rock supplier about two minutes from my house for $3.20.SoCalSunset said:
A much better deal than getting robbed at PetCo :Angel: Too bad they didn't sell drift wood
As far as the type of rocks you can use go, stick with igneous. They're by far the most stable since they were formed at incredibly temperatures, plus they tend to be the most colorful. Flagstone, cobblestone, granite, slate, shale, flagstone, and lava rocks are good examples of rocks easy to find and safe to use.
Stay away from crumbly rocks like sand stone which will fall apart in your tank, and limestone which will kill your fish :mad2:
The vinegar test determines if a rock will raise the PH of the tank. If it bubbles, it will. (like mixing vinegar and baking soda).
Most rock is fine, I got about 100lbs for under $35 at a local place that just sells rock. THey've got the cut/polished stuff for floors etc. but they also have great big bins of stuff for landscaping or whatever that is great for tanks. (just rinse well).
limestone will not kill all fish, it is often used in cichlid tanks to raise the ph and make the water more 'comfortable' for the cichlids, but it is not good for fish that like softer more acidic water. (I'm talking africans here, south american cichlids like different water). However, for a typical tank, limestone is not the best choice.
Slate flagstone is fairly easy to break by hitting with a hammer, but doesn't usually fall apart on its own. I believe shale will though.
Emily
Most rock is fine, I got about 100lbs for under $35 at a local place that just sells rock. THey've got the cut/polished stuff for floors etc. but they also have great big bins of stuff for landscaping or whatever that is great for tanks. (just rinse well).
limestone will not kill all fish, it is often used in cichlid tanks to raise the ph and make the water more 'comfortable' for the cichlids, but it is not good for fish that like softer more acidic water. (I'm talking africans here, south american cichlids like different water). However, for a typical tank, limestone is not the best choice.
Slate flagstone is fairly easy to break by hitting with a hammer, but doesn't usually fall apart on its own. I believe shale will though.
Emily
whats a good dark greyish to black rocks i can use so i can match it with my other rocks and my black gravel.