Urgent!!!! Could I put outside rocks in my tank

[rockyofhockey]

Hello all
I have a 40 gallon tank and I have nice flat rocks from outside. From what I've heard as long as I boil them it will be ok. Could I do this?

 

[rockyofhockey]

Anyone? Will this harm my fish?

 

[venymae]

I put rocks from outside in my tank all the time. Make sure they are not calcium based (like limestone) or they will increase your water hardness. Most rocks are ok though. Just scrub them good to get off any detritus and sanitize them (boil, bleach, vinegar, whatever!)

 

[venymae]

I'm sure there are more things to consider, maybe google it?

 

[rockyofhockey]

these r the rocks. Do u think they should be ok? An thx for the response

 

[BBradbury]

Local Rocks in FW Tanks

Hello all
I have a 40 gallon tank and I have nice flat rocks from outside. From what I've heard as long as I boil them it will be ok. Could I do this?

Hello rock...

Put a few drops of common vinegar on the rock. If there's a reaction of any sort, don't use it. If there's none, rinse the rock in a little warm tap water and it's tank ready. There's nothing complicated about the process.

B

 

[rockyofhockey]

Thx man

 

[venymae]

Ah, yeah. The vinegar will tell you if it's calcium based. Limestone fizzles a lot ('cause it's mostly calcium carbonate)

 

[rockyofhockey]

Just did it kne nothing happened at all the other 2 look like it sunk in the rock and the last one I heard a crackling but no bubbles so what do u think

 

[venymae]

Sandstone is apparently a no-no also. Not sure why...

 

[rockyofhockey]

One^^^***

 

[venymae]

Well if it was me, I'd go find a different rock like the ones that did nothing. Just to be safe.

 

[venymae]

Suitability of Rocks in the Aquarium - A Practical Guide

 

[rockyofhockey]

Well I think I might go with them if I bleach then because nothing really happened and it took me a good hour to find them because my whole back yard is covered in snow I'm in nj and nother 10+ storm is hitting

 

[okapizebra]

Please don't boil rocks! It may not happen often, but there can be air trapped inside rocks and when they're boiled it heats it up creating pressure which causes the rocks to explode, which could be very dangerous.

It's hard to tell from the pics. Do they have any shiny spots in them? I would be worried about possible metals in them. Also, are you sure you picked them from an area that didn't get any pesticides?

 

[jwh0818]

The rocks the OP found look similar to sand stone.

 

[rockyofhockey]

this one

 

[rockyofhockey]

And the other ones look like clay would that be ok

 

[jwh0818]

this one

I wouldn't add that. Looks like cement piece with gravel in it

 

[jwh0818]

And the other ones look like clay would that be ok

I wouldn't add the clay one until you let it sit for a few weeks and see if its gonna call apart