using garden rock
- Thread starter kbayer310
- Start date
Thats a great idea, saves money and real rocks look better IMHO than fake ones. To prep a rock for tank life, brush off the dirt and dribble some lemon juice on it, to see if it fizzes. If it does, there is metal in it and you can't use it. IF not scrub it down with a scrub brush, or scored pad in a 1:1 bleach/water solution. Be really good if there are any holes in the rock or cracks. Then rise it off with water, really really well. Give it the sniff test. If you still smell bleach rise more.
There are better guides for how to prep an outside rock, but thats the jist of it.
There are better guides for how to prep an outside rock, but thats the jist of it.
I collected smooth rocks from a local stream when I first set up my tank. First I boiled the heck out of them, then srubbed, dried, and boiled again. At the time I set up my tank I didn't know about bleach being safe to use (if you dry the rock out completely afterwards), or about another trick I learned here, which is the vinegar test - similar to what Conman suggested with lemon juice.
I later found out that I probably saved myself at least $100 by collecting them myself vs. buying them from the fish store!
I later found out that I probably saved myself at least $100 by collecting them myself vs. buying them from the fish store!
It's not whether the rock has metal in it or not; it's whether it has anything in it that will affect the tank water. That's why the vinegar test will show if it is 'inert' - as, in, nothing that will combine with chemicals in the water to create another possibly dangerous compound.
At least, this is my way of explaining it to myself
At least, this is my way of explaining it to myself
I loved finding out about the vinegar test. I went to my brother who collects rocks and he gave me quite a few of various sizes and colors. One in particular was too big for my tanks so I have to break it down. It's going to be gorgeous in there. He also gave me a piece with a small bit of amethyst in it, but I decided it was too small to put in the tank and actually see the colors. Most of his rocks were things he collected around Lake Superior or found on his property.
