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	Where do you get your rocks from?
tessa38uk Big Fish Posts: 466 Kudos: 586 Votes: 121 Registered: 11-Mar-2004	Hi friends I was just wondering where you all pick your rocks up from for your tropical community tanks and what type of rock you get? Only last time I brought my rocks was from the aquarium shop its self and they charge by the weight which makes it very expensive? Yet I have seen the same types of rock in the garden centres? Is it safe to buy these rocks from the garden centres or do we really have to pay the high prices in the aquarium shops? http://www.greenspersonalprinting.com/
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
greenmonkey51 Fish Master Posts: 1571 Kudos: 1692 Votes: 5 Registered: 28-Jan-2004	I get all mine know from a landscaping company. I've been using some for a year and I've never had a problem.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
keithgh Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 6371 Kudos: 6918 Votes: 1542 Registered: 26-Apr-2003	tessa38uk I think you will find they are all sold by weight but at varing prices. Depending what you are looking for. I just purchased a small bag of 1-2ins smooth natural coloured river stones $2 Aust from a hardware store gardening section. At a small up market nursery same bag well over $10. I have only ever bought my larger rocks at an Aquarium. Keith Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do. I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT? VOTE NOW VOTE NOW
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
aussiebloke Fish Addict Posts: 727 Kudos: 851 Votes: 12 Registered: 31-Aug-2003	I collect my rocks out in the bush. It works out alot cheaper. Theyre sand stone and ive been using them from the start of my fishy life a few years ago. -Matt
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003	All the rocks I've used are ones I've found myself. Garden center rocks will work, just look to make sure they're not too close to where they might have been spraying pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers. And as always make sure you scrub and rince before use in your tank . ^_^[hr width='40%']"Has someone taken your faith? It's real, the pain you feel. The life, the love, You die to heal. The hope that starts, The broken hearts... I’ve got another confession my friend, I’m no fool. I’m getting tired of starting again, Somewhere new."
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
NowherMan6 Fish Master Posts: 1880 Kudos: 922 Votes: 69 Registered: 21-Jun-2004	Yep, got all mine from the great outdoors. Here's the method I use to clean them: 1.) Rinse and scrub 2.) Rinse with a mild bleach solution 3.) Rinse and dechlor 4.) Rinse and dechlor 5.)-9.) Rinse and dechlor 10.) Bake at 450 degrees for 30 minutes 11.) Let cool and rinse again No sense taking chances on putting any chemicals or parasites in your tank... *Back in the saddle!*
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
littlemousling Conchiform Posts: 5230 Registered: 23-Aug-2003	Garden centers. No scrubbing required, and VERY cheap - my field stone is only 29 cents a pound! And you'll find a wide variety, so you don't have to settle for what occurs naturally in your area. -Molly Visit shelldwellers.com!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
Sharpix Enthusiast Posts: 241 Kudos: 123 Votes: 0 Registered: 01-Mar-2003	Hey people... what about instead of baking the rocks prefeer using the microwave oven? I've done that while watching for signs of sparks (sparks appear when something with metal content is microwaved) and... It works... 2 minutes or three at most and the rocks get seriously untouchable!!!!! I bet that any rock would get sterilized with a 5 minute treatment in the microwave... I advise putting something between the rock and the crystal plate to prevent over heating the plate... Thats all
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003	Microwaves work by heating the water, which is why when I do my rocks and wood in the microwave I place them in a tray of water first, then place it all in the microwave. Creates a lot of moisture inside the microwave (which is a good thing if you're using the one @the office ...helps get all that who knows what gunk unstuck ). Then run it for half an hour or so. Not sure if using the dry method would cause any harm to the microwave itself which is why I use the tray of water. ^_^ [hr width='40%']"Has someone taken your faith? It's real, the pain you feel. The life, the love, You die to heal. The hope that starts, The broken hearts... I’ve got another confession my friend, I’m no fool. I’m getting tired of starting again, Somewhere new."
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
tessa38uk Big Fish Posts: 466 Kudos: 586 Votes: 121 Registered: 11-Mar-2004	Oh dear not sure i want to try that lol what if it explodes or something half an hour seems a long time. http://www.greenspersonalprinting.com/
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003	Thats why you use water . You're essentially making rock soup ....people use microwaves to cook meals all the time. Half an hour really is not that long, but if you prefer to do it in the oven or on the stove that's fine as well, I've used all three methods, for me microwave is just the fastest to get the water to boil. ^_^[hr width='40%']"Has someone taken your faith? It's real, the pain you feel. The life, the love, You die to heal. The hope that starts, The broken hearts... I’ve got another confession my friend, I’m no fool. I’m getting tired of starting again, Somewhere new."
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
keithgh Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 6371 Kudos: 6918 Votes: 1542 Registered: 26-Apr-2003	Sharpix If you have ever seen a rock explode around a camp fire you would never place a rock in a MW. You might get away with it 99% of the time but it only takes one rock to do masive damage. I have seen it happen several times. I would use a good washing method it will take longer but it will be the safest method. Keith Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do. I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT? VOTE NOW VOTE NOW
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26
justicerulesok Enthusiast Posts: 195 Kudos: 161 Votes: 2 Registered: 27-Jun-2004	some shops sell the rock by weight, but some lfs do sell by the lump ie small lump of rock £? or big lumps £?? B & Q / homebase is fine too. I wash in hot water & then swish round in a bucket of cooler water with the dechlorinator in & finally rice in a bucket of aquarium water. Works fine.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:26


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