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can you use any old rocks for your tank? i find that rocks in the stores seem to be pricey! why when rocks stollen from your neibours garden are free!

Just kidding folks. No i dont go raiding my Neibours garden in the wee hours!

i guess what i want to ask is how can i get my hands on some cheap white rocks that will buffer my ph to about 8 or so?

Briefly you can not use any type of rock some are totally unsuitable for aquariums. Certainly never use any rocks that have been in a graden yours or any one elses reasons poisons could have been used and this will transfer to your tank.

That is the reason for buying them from the propper sources. Many landscape suppliers have the correct rocks as they are used for outside fish ponds, and these are usually a lot cheaper.

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Keith

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You could try a landscaping center. I don't know about cheap, but for buffering to about 8 you will be looking for limestone. I wouldn't dump a whole bunch in all at once, the shock from a rise in pH can be worse than the shock of a drop in pH. Always test any rocks going in the tank with an acid solution, if it bubbles it will cause the pH to rise. Rinse rocks same as gravel, and test pH daily at the same time to see how much it affects it. You can add more until you get the desired effect. Basically anything that adds calcium or magnesium will buffer the raise and buffer the pH.
Hope this made sense!

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

Lime stone is go for that and if you pick it up out of a forest rather then a garden would be better and remember to always boil it. I have done it in almost all my tanks those rocks you buy are a rip off

OK I've done a ring around, turns out its near impossible to get lime stone in melbourne, victoria is there any other kind of white rock (dosnt have to buffer ph just dont want it to drop ph.) i can use?

ps, if you in adelade its perfect for africans there, high hardness stright from the tap and a bountiful supply of lime stone! pain for discus i guess tho!

i've answered my own question

[link]http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?s=bf9b0812fce3b5b449c7e9f3400303da&showtopic=55806

good article on rocks,

i think i'll go with slate. its not white but it looks good and i know i can get it.

I think you will find some of the SA lime stone rocks actually break down over a long period of time under water.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

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