'Vinegar / muratic test' for rocks

[TBarb]

Does anyone know about this.  I think you can test rocks with vinegar for its safety in aquariums. If it fizzles then it is bad?

Has anyone done this or always gone and bought rocks?

What approach does one take to sanitize the rocks? Boils them?

[dpatte]

i dont buy rocks, and never actually tired the vinigar test, though I believe it works o identify some rocks whcih arent good for a tank.

You can get slate near ottawa, and granite near kingston. Search for slate and granite in these forums.

[pegasus]

I don't know if vinegar is strong enough, I'd use glacial acetic acid in 1:4 ration. I heard others using muratic (sp) acid (used as primer for ciment floor).

[redbelly]

if your worried about steralizing i have a stereo clave and can help you out for a trade or something...

[dpatte]

you have a clave? how big is it? Does it work by heat?

[redbelly]

its a stereo clave. it steralizes by heat and if you dont put your stuff in bags by steam. its basically like a giant pressure cooker. it has a central basin of water, and a large pot that sits above the water so what your steralizing doesnt sit in the water. its kinda tricky to explain i guess...
oh yeah and the pot it about 1.5 feet deap by about 1.25 feet across... about the size of a 20 L stock pot. the specs say its a 25 quart liquid capacity.