Dead Beach stones

Hey,

I have a couple questions about rocks and stones. Is it safe to use beach rocks (sand stone) in a freshwater tank? I have boiled them (in hot water) and i am letting them sit in a bucket of fresh water with a pump. i Replace the water daily. The problem is today i changed the water and i got a funny sea smell which doesnt seem to safe.

If i cant use those can anyone recommend where i can get some rocks (pick them up) i dont see why i should pay R100 for a rock that can easly have been picked up.

Thanks
Freaksta

 

You can collect some really nice looking rocks from the beach. Best place is Beachview or Sardinia Bay if you don't mind the walking...

Collect some and then test them with pool acid. If you see bubbles then that means the acid is reacting with the rock and then you cannot use those rocks in your tank.

Then you need to scrub them down and remove all creatures and sea shells. You do this also with pool acid. I leave the rocks overnight in a 50:50 mix of pool acid and water.

After this, rinse and scrub again and then bleach bath the rocks in a 1:3 bleach and water solution for a day.

Then let them dry out in the sun for a few days.

 

thanks a lot, thats for more comprehensive than anything ive ever seen about stones hehe

 

Thanks for sharing Laure. I've been looking for a 'howto' like this for ages.

 

hi Freaksa
Even if you see bubbles you still can use the rock! (Sorry Laure)
It just means that your rocks will buffer acidic water , meaning if you want slightly acidic water it will push your ph up again.

 

This is why I pay R14p.kg for my rocks... cause generally the rocks are safe, and I just need to scrub. Never had any problems with LPS rocks in the past.

Needless to say, I do have about 10kgs extra just lying around from overspending!

 

Yes you are correct the rock can still be used but NOT for soft water fish. If you require an acidic ph and low hardness then you cannot use the rocks if it reacts with pool acid.

 

Managed to get some acid today and my rock started foaming like hell so i guess those are out the window . . . .

I have one more question though, i have a rock in my tank currently and its started to go a dark colour, if i did the bleach treatment to it would the colour go back to normal? And must the rock be soaked in clear water after the bleach so it doesnt kill all my fish?

Thanks
Freaksta

 

If it's a new tank set up, then the darkening of the rock is normal. It's diatoms that usually start in a new tank set up. It eventually goes away.

 

na its not a new tank its just gone that colour over the past year, would the bleaching fix it?

 

No I would probably soak it in water with a storng dechlorinator, maybe 4x recommended amount. And then you must let it dry out completely in the sun. If you smell any bleach on the rock, do NOT put it back in the tank.