cainechow Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 I'm thinking of picking up some rocks from the side of a creek or river, alternatively from a quarry. Are there rocks to avoid for planted tanks with fish and/or shrimp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 Try to do an acid test on them before putting them in your tank. If you put a few drops of acid on the rock an it bubbles, chances are it'll raise your pH and/or hardness. You may want to boil or bake them as well if you're taking them out of a water source, just to kill any FW grubblies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcgd Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 Jason, have you ever seen rocks bubble with any weak acid like vinegar? I've just never gotten it to bubble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvision Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 You'd need to emmerse at least part of the rock in vinegar and watch for tiny bubbles. The best is strong acids - you can get HCl at pool supply stores under the name muric or muriatic acid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crystal Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 I tend to run any "field" rocks through the dishwasher. It beats scrubbing them and does a better job too. My dad works at a gravel pit, and the owners don't care if I pick some rocks out of the grass because the big equipment can't get it out of the grass anyways. They have over 20 kinds of rock piles, and I can take anything from the regular gravel pile that goes to the crusher for gravel roads. Nice rocks, but boy are they dirty... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebelThunder Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 +1 vinegar for acid test and don't forget to boil them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckmullin Posted March 20, 2012 Report Share Posted March 20, 2012 (edited) have some muriaticacid if you want something stronger. We hike in the mountains in Kananaskis...can give you some great spots for awesome rocks. Edited March 20, 2012 by ckmullin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodles Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 I've collected a few rocks from in the mountains that failed the bubble test. (this is how i learned about the bubble test) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mokos Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 Hey ckmullin, Just had a question where do you find these nice rocks in k country. Just wondering because a buddy and me are going to go up in the next week or so to train. It'd be sweet if I could bring a couple back. That is if it's not covered in snow lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckmullin Posted March 21, 2012 Report Share Posted March 21, 2012 Try to do an acid test on them before putting them in your tank. If you put a few drops of acid on the rock an it bubbles, chances are it'll raise your pH and/or hardness. You may want to boil or bake them as well if you're taking them out of a water source, just to kill any FW grubblies. I've seen personally rocks that bubble with less than 5 ml of vinegar dripped on it. Use your eyes BUT also use your ears. If it sounds like that fizz/pop rock candy they used to sell years back...then there is a reaction. Hey ckmullin, Just had a question where do you find these nice rocks in k country. Just wondering because a buddy and me are going to go up in the next week or so to train. It'd be sweet if I could bring a couple back. That is if it's not covered in snow lol Down hwy 66 or hwy 40. Just make sure you test when your there. I'd hate to send you on a wild goose chase as I'm sure everything is covered. Especially down hwy 40. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Serenity Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 I've used the vinegar test and my rocks 'failed'. I really loved the shape and look of them so I researched them on the internet to find that they were in fact safe for the aquarium and my bubbling was most likely from organics or soils on the surface of them. Scrub them really good or use lots of vinegar to clean and test them. Also be careful as the surface could be porous causing small bubbles at first until they are filled. RebelThunder hit the nail on the head: Always boil them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckmullin Posted March 22, 2012 Report Share Posted March 22, 2012 I've used the vinegar test and my rocks 'failed'. I really loved the shape and look of them so I researched them on the internet to find that they were in fact safe for the aquarium and my bubbling was most likely from organics or soils on the surface of them. Scrub them really good or use lots of vinegar to clean and test them. Also be careful as the surface could be porous causing small bubbles at first until they are filled. RebelThunder hit the nail on the head: Always boil them. very true. what might be good to counter act that is throw the rock in a pail of water. let it soak up the water first so it won't absorb any more liquid then give the acid test a try. ( of course an old toothbrush in your back pocket would be perfect for that quick scrub) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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