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I have a new 125g tank I'm populating and decorating lots with various rocks and silk artificial plants.

I was just given a rock by a friend that shows traces of very thin tiny layers of iron in a couple places. I think this because one of the very few layers is a dull red and a slight amount of "rust" appears on the surface from rain and being in her garden for years.

Is iron bad for fish, even in a couple very thin tiny layers? IF So, how can I chemically remove the iron and use this beautiful grey/black layered rock with much sparkling Mica throughout the rock, Please??

I do not know of direct effects of iron on fish, however I do know that iron can be a limiting nutrient for plant and algae growth. If someone is adding a lot of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, three of the main nutrients required for plants to grow, but still aren't getting much growth, they may just have to add a very small amount of iron to get a lot of growth.

Basically, what this means is that iron can actually fertilize plants, as well as algae. Water can potentially turn rather green if the major nutrients are already available in the aquarium.

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The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

OK Shinigami,
That is good to know that is not harmful.
I add no chemicals for live plants...no live plants (only silk artificials) in the tank.

I also use a UZ Sterilizer for algae.
So, I should be OK to add the rock, right?

IIRC it depends on what type of iron it is, and how much it is.

I've got some large (6-7lb) rocks in my planted tank that are 'iron rich', but don't have visible signs of the iron other than a slight reddish coloration... there aren't any shiny places or flakes of iron. I haven't had any problem with those rocks in the two years they've been in my 29 gal tank, and I haven't had to dose iron (my Aponogetons get spots on them if they don't have enough iron, and they do fine). I haven't had any abnormal problems with algae or fish deaths or anything either.

I think your rocks may contain a different type/composition/amount of iron, though. Do some research (google is great!) on different types of iron. IIRC, it has something to do with ions that affects it's solubility in water and toxicity to life (specifically fish).

Do you know the origin of the rock? Like where it was found or mined originally?

No, sadly I don't know the origin of the rock...except "East Texas, somewhere".
A Google search found Wikipedia listing possibly a hundred kinds of iron minerals! All I can tell is that it is the kind that causes rust stains near the few noticably iron red/brown strata.
And I'll have No live plants in that tank.

The fish in that tank(that I Do Not want to harm) are 8 large Bala(Silver)Sharks, 14 Congo Tetra, 18 Rosy Barbs, 6 Silver Dollar fish, and a beautiful 6" SA Stripefin Eartheater.

I would play it safe and leave it out just in case. Frank would be the only person who could tell you about the rock but he would have to see it first.
If you like the rock make a feature ornament of it and display it but not in the tank.

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

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Hi,
First, the Rule of Thumb, put only inert rocks in an
aquarium. In other words, rocks that will not disolve,
leach, or give off, various minerals or compounds into the
water. Any form or Quartz (SiO2) is an example of an
inert rock. Limestone, dolomite, etc. are carbonates,
and examples of rocks that will change your water chemistry.
From your description, those rocks should not
be in an enclosed system (an aquarium).

While Iron (Fe) is required for plant growth, too much
can be toxic to both fish and plants.
With the introduction of the rocks, you would have no
way to control how much, and what type of iron was
being released.
Much the same argument is presented in the use of
copper pennies as a treatment for Ich. One has
absolutely no idea how many pennies, or how much
rock could be added before it became toxic.

metals for aquarium use are the chelated form of the
metal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelation
That prevents it from precipitating out of solution and
falling to the bottom of the tank. metals in this form
are easily compounded, measured, and tracked. They are
used for fertilizers, and for medications, both instances
where it is necessary to know how much of that metal is
in solution.

I'd put the rocks on a shelf, or back out in the garden.
Frank


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