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	Adding Rocks
fishnewbie Big Fish Posts: 349 Kudos: 619 Votes: 319 Registered: 01-Apr-2004	I'm planning on taking rocks from my backyard. If they dont leech calcium into the water, what should I do to them before adding them to my tank?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003	I'd suggest scrubbing them nice and clean, don't use any soap or detergent. Then depending on the size either boil or bake them to kill any living buggers that might be in or on them. After that they should be fine to add....least that's how I've done all the ones I've added to my tanks . ^_^
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
fishnewbie Big Fish Posts: 349 Kudos: 619 Votes: 319 Registered: 01-Apr-2004	well the rocks are too big to boil so i guess I will bake them. How hot should the oven be and how long should I bake them? [span class="edited"][Edited by fishnewbie 2004-08-11 11:18][/span]
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003	150F-200F should be hot enough to kill anything....I'd say half an hour or so, all of mine were small enough to do in the microwave so I've never actually employed the oven for rocks...just for driftwood. ^_^
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
fishnewbie Big Fish Posts: 349 Kudos: 619 Votes: 319 Registered: 01-Apr-2004	just put to of the small ones in. Now I just have the big one to worry about. Thanks a lot Babelfish!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
fishnewbie Big Fish Posts: 349 Kudos: 619 Votes: 319 Registered: 01-Apr-2004	Okay bad news. The biggest rock wont fit in the oven! What should I do? I really want to put it in though.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003	what sized oven do you have ...will the rock even fit in the tank ? If so you can try doing a bleach soak, just follow it up with a good rinse, a dechlor bath, a few more rinses, let it sit in the sun for awhile (the UV is supposed to break down bleach) and rinse a bit more in even more dechlor. Don't add it to the tank if you notice even a faint trace of bleach on it. ^_^
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
fishnewbie Big Fish Posts: 349 Kudos: 619 Votes: 319 Registered: 01-Apr-2004	My tank is 90 gallons so it would fit in the tank, but I decided not to use it. The 2 rocks look good anyways. Now I just need to get the driftwood. thanks! [span class="edited"][Edited by fishnewbie 2004-08-12 10:36][/span]
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
Crazygar Mega Fish "Wheel of Mortality..turn turn turn..." Posts: 1230 Kudos: 1087 Votes: 1 Registered: 30-Jun-2003	Do not heat the rocks too much, they tend to explode after a while. Its quite a surprising experience. Gary
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
inkodinkomalinko Fish Guru Posts: 2441 Kudos: 833 Registered: 18-Jan-2003	And depending on the rocks..they might crumble when they are boiling (mine did o_o )
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
Crazygar Mega Fish "Wheel of Mortality..turn turn turn..." Posts: 1230 Kudos: 1087 Votes: 1 Registered: 30-Jun-2003	Pouring vinegar on them (if it fizzes, you do not want it) is also a good test to check the chemical compound of your "rock" or "stone" you wish to place into your tank. Gary
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26


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