Wild rocks for FW tank

[captainGregor]

I was wondering if you can share your thoughts on cleaning/treating rocks found in the wild. Assume that they are not calcium-based and that they are found at a local creek. All opinions are appreciated. Rocks at the LFS are outrageously expensive

[peterp]

Calcium based may or may not be bad depending on your water and what kind of fish you want to keep. My rift cichlid tank has a calcium based substraight to help with the water hardness & buffering.

More troublesome would be any metals like iron in the rocks.

For treating, some people boil them, or wash with a bit of bleach(no soap) then rinse a lot.

[shawmutt]

I got a bucket of slate and limestone at the local plant nursery for $25 bucks, scrubbed them off with a little bleach water (10 parts water to 1 part bleach), rinsed them off, and put them in my tank. No adverse affects yet.