Help with cleaning river rocks please

[Mommaof4boys]

I picked up done rocks from the river last night, they are covered in algae... I've scrubbed and scrubbed and it's not coming off... Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[bettaowner]

I would put the rocks in boiling water for at least an hour and dry them out in the sun.

 

[Mommaof4boys]

Don't rocks have a chance of exploding if boiled?

 

[bettaowner]

I don't think so. Just put them in hot water to kill any microbes and dry them in the sun to kill algae.

 

[christine2012]

Yes rocks can contain air pockets, which when exposed to extreme temps, can explode. Found out the hard way while boiling rainbow rock for my beardie a few years back. Soak them. Pour boiling water OVER them. Do the vinegar test, and give them a day or two in the sun.

 

[bettaowner]

Thank you for correcting me. I just assumed cleaning the rocks was the same as curing driftwood.

 

[jetajockey]

Let them soak in a 1:19 bleach/water solution for a while and it should help get rid of the algae.

 

[christine2012]

I didn't necessarily mean to correct you, just encouraging the safest possible route. I don't wanna see her post here tomorrow about a long ER visit. Lol!

 

[Shadownova]

I would put them In hot water and then put them in the sun