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Is it ok to use real outdoor rocks in a freshwater fish tank?
Mets Fan asked:
I want to grab some rocks from my garden to use in my 20 gallon fish tank, I don’t know if it will harm the fish.
I want to grab some rocks from my garden to use in my 20 gallon fish tank, I don’t know if it will harm the fish.
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21. October 2008 at 5:06 am :
Yes i used some from a river but make sure you wash them of and clean them with anti bacterial soap
23. October 2008 at 6:33 pm :
I tried that once and had bad results. Too many germs and algae spores. I think maybe if you boil them for 30 minutes in a pot of water, maybe then it would be OK.
26. October 2008 at 1:04 am :
or you could boil them in water for 1/2 hour. That will sterilize them even better than soap.
28. October 2008 at 6:10 pm :
Yeah its fine just make sure you clean them and wash every bit of soap off of the rocks i would even let them dry before i put them in the tank.
31. October 2008 at 5:49 pm :
clean them before putting it in the tank since it may have some unknown or unwanted micro organism that might can some problems to ur fish. to be on the safe side… its best to clean the rocks first.
2. November 2008 at 5:41 am :
It is if you clean them first. Wash them in a bleach and rinse well,let them air in the sun for about 24 hours and it should be fine.I have done it.
2. November 2008 at 11:38 pm :
I think it’s ok, but you will have to scrub them down real good and maybe soak them to get the dirt and germs off the rocks. You might want to check with a pet store and see if they have some kind of rock or cleanser for that.
4. November 2008 at 3:43 pm :
First pour some white vinegar on them. If it bubbles or foams, you don’t want to use it. It’ll raise the ph in your tank, unless that’s what you’re trying to do
Otherwise, I’d recommend scrubbing them and boiling them before adding to your tank.
6. November 2008 at 1:12 pm :
Should be ok. Make sure they are totally smooth and don’t have a lot of pockets or grooves where dirt, germs, etc. can collect. Wash and rinse them really well.
8. November 2008 at 9:12 am :
Yes,just make sure the rocks are clean,give them a good rinse & they should be fine.I have a 125 gallon tank and do it all the time when I find cool looking rocks.
11. November 2008 at 5:46 pm :
Sure, just clean them and check them first. Wash the rock really well in hot water and scrub off any dirt. Once dry, drip on some vinegar and see if it fizzes at all anywhere on the rock, if so, don’t use that rock. If it doesn’t fizz, place it in a bowl of water and cover it over night. If in the morning you find an oily film on the water, don’t use the rock or if the roick has flacked or crumbled at all in the bowl, don’t use that rock. Most will be just fine, but do take the time to check each one first for the health and safety of your fish.
MM
13. November 2008 at 10:04 pm :
yes you can!!
the best thing to do if you really want to use outdoor items in your fish tank .. clean them good! (and not with soap it will contaminate the water in the tank and hurt the fish) the best way is to boil a pot of water and let the rocks sit in there for a few mins .. the hot water will kill most or all the bacteria on the rocks and make them suitible for a fish tank!
also you can do his with sticks to if you want them in your tank. && do not put real shells in the water over time they break down and will ruin the water in the tank and kill the fish!!
good luck
15. November 2008 at 8:40 pm :
well i did try that to my fishtank and i found for sum reason that the outside rocks as well as ocean sea shells produce algee alot quciker…im sure they look really nice and its safe to use them maybe boil them in hot water to disinfect them from the outside pesticides .. honestly i wouldnt do it though i have realized that…
fish and fish care are very very sensitive they build there own enivorment in the water they live.. but if u are cleaning the fishtank and adding new water and stuff than go ahead but i wouldnt otherwise…
18. November 2008 at 11:25 pm :
Absolutely not. You need to make sure that there is no bacteial or mold growth that could destroy your tanks ecology.
You can scrub the rocks then place them in boiling water but if you really want to be safe, buy some from the store. The rocks sold there will also have a safe mineral content for the water in the tank.
21. November 2008 at 6:29 am :
I did that before and my tank got really dirty and cloudy. I even washed them first so I wouldn’t recommend it.
21. November 2008 at 6:48 am :
yes it is — just put them into a cake pan into the oven @ 170 degrees Fahrenheit for 2- hours this will destroy any bacteria or spores then wash them and cool before putting into tank.
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22. November 2008 at 11:02 am :
if you clean them its fine dont use a harsh chemical to clean it tho
25. November 2008 at 4:01 am :
It depends on the make-up of the rocks,Calcium containing rocks will have a considerable affect on the pH of the tank. Some crystalline rocks will dissolve in an aquarium. If you do try to use garden rock first soak it in a bleach solution,if it fizzes or bubbles it won’t work in the tank. If it passes this test soak it in the bleach solution for a couple of weeks,then rinse it thoroughly and soak it in a Sodium tri-phosphate solution for a few days. Then repeat rinses ’til you can’t detect any chlorine odor.
27. November 2008 at 2:03 pm :
noooooooooo! NEVER! No matter how much you wash them off! They could have peticides weed killer that will never come off! Also the fish could get stuck under this rock and die! Experiance! DONT DO IT! Buy some from the pet store!
27. November 2008 at 7:16 pm :
You can use them.
Just make sure you soak them well before putting them into the tank.
30. November 2008 at 5:58 am :
yeah just clean them and they should be fine