Buying vs collecting rock (Setting up a 2nd larger aquarium)

[mole]

I'm in the process of setting up a 2nd larger Chiclid tank and would like make use of some rock in both corners of the tank.

I have collected some rocks in Barrhaven in the hopes of saving some $$ in that area to be spent on other things like livestock.

I've been told in one case that this is safe provided they don't contain calcium or lime but have also been told that its too risky and I should buy.

? Has anyone collected their own rocks? Any advice? How would I test for lime or calcium?

? Is there a cheap place to buy suitable rocks?  Is there a type of rock that is nice looking but not too $$?

Thanks

[aidensmomma2000]

My mother used to have a trick- she'd put on a bit of vingegar and if it bubbled the rocks were definatly not safe.  This is something I remember as a kid, so I'm not sure if its a surefire way or not!

[ambushman2j]

80% of my tank has rocks I collected from around the province..I just soak it in javex for a day, then rinse it a few times..the only type of rock I ever buy is lava rock because it's so coarse and is perfect for holding a good bacteria colony..whoever told you it was too risky clearly had more interest in his commision then giving you good advice..there's nothing wrong with picking up your own rock if you want to put the work in for it

[james]

Hi
The rocks around Ottawa, especially around the river are mostly lime stone. Its great if you are keeping African Cichlids. I use it in my tanks. It keeps the ph up
J
ames

[Eirikre]

Is it easy to determine which stones are limestone?

[dpatte]

there is nice slate near the brittania filter station

i get most of my rock (red granite) from near the international bridge o the 401 near gananoque. but you can find nearly as nice rock on highway 5 going north to wakefield quebec

[ambushman2j]

tho being winter it's not the best time to get rocks, since there's not much snow however, now might be the time you want to act before there's too much, also at the next aquarium club auction steve cass will more then likely be bringing 2 buckets of rocks..that's where I got most of mine from.  4th monday of every month excluding december and the summer months

[Ron]

Short of making sure that they are cleaned well, you should only have a couple things (well, maybe three) to be concerned with.

Unless you want your pH to rise, make sure you are not using limestone. Granite and slate are both good choices. Not a geologist? Get a bottle of muriatic acid from the hardware store, and put a few drops on a sample of the stone in question. If it fizzes, it will raise your pH, if not, you should be OK. A previous post mentioned using vinegar for the same purpose, but it will not react as obviously with some stones that will dissolve over time in your tank and raise the pH.

Be careful using rock with extremely sharp edges. Rounded, eroded and water worn stones stand less chance of damaging a startled fish if it should happen to run into it.

Be sure that any rocks you place in your tank are securely positioned. This is even more important if your tank houses species that like to dig (eg:cichlids). A large rock toppling over and striking the glass can have predictably disastrous results!

Happy rock hunting,

                                Ron

[mole]

Is the only real concern the effect of the rock on the PH levels?

Anyone know if there is any chance of mineral content from the rock leaking into the water and harming the fish in some way (this was part of the risk I was told about in that conversation I mentioned in my original post) ?  

Thanks for all contributions, a lot of useful input/advice.  
Given that, I plan to go ahead with my original intentions and use my own rock...can't wait to start setting up the tank.

[dpatte]

It recently occurred to me that if you are doing regular water changes of 20% / week, then even some minerals are not going to be a major issue.

I have a friend with a very healthy tank with a little bronze statue in it.  :shock:  She does 20% water chages every week and even though bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, two deadly metals in the tank the water changes seem to keep everything ok and the tank is doing great.

[Ron]

The amount of soluable mineral in any rock you are likely to find in the Ottawa area is minimal, and as Dave pointed out, would be more than looked after with regular water changes. I'd suggest simply steering clear of limestone/sandstone/marble.

Ron

[saltydog]

Although I do not use them, I never heard of a caveat regarding the use of marble rocks in a tank. I thought, in general, all igneous & metamorphic (non-sedimentary) rock was insoluble & safe. Any comments?

[Ron]

Marble is a metamorphic form of limestone, which I am told over time will slowly dissolve in water, increasing hardness and alkalinity.

Best,

         Ron

[artw]

Rocks that increase PH are ideal for African tanks
I have been using david patte's red granite for quite a while and it will eventually turn a nice algae brown.  Very nice. It doesnt seem to raise the pH.
I also got some limestone up by Deschenses  Rapids (ottawa river) and it seems to hold the ph up but I also put bs in the tank so it's hard to tell.

David here is a question for you.   If the rocks in the Ottawa river contain limestone how come our tap water is so soft ??

[dpatte]

David here is a question for you.   If the rocks in the Ottawa river contain limestone how come our tap water is so soft ??

why did you decide to ask me the impossible question?  :shock:  I will pass this one on to ummm, Ron.  

[Ron]

Hi Guys,

I think the answer to Art's query lies in the fact that it is the Ottawa River; if it where Lake Ottawa, my guess is it would be harder and more alkaline.

The fact is that the water running in the river was very recently rainwater, now making it's way downhill to the ocean. Any given sample of the water has simply not been in contact with the limestone long enough to have become hard and alkaline.

Best,
         Ron

[mole]

I'm finally making some ground in getting my tank setup.  Went out and bought the javex and acid this evening.  Those who follow the same steps be prepared to be looked at with suspicious eyes....

Dumping rubber gloves and a half a dozen large bottles of Javex into a shopping cart draws a lot of attention.  I suggest have some fun with it and while you're in line at the cash and people are still looking at you, lean over to the clerk and ask in a half whisper whether Javex can really remove   traces of blood.  Luckily the grocery store doesn't sell the acid, sure that wouldn't have helped situation.

[dpatte]

wow - how much javex do you need! are you planning on opening a public aquarium?

[saltydog]

I never use pure javex to clean rocks. I dilute with water so that it is about 75% water, 25% bleach.  I use the same solution over & over again for all the rocks. I doubt whether I would use more than one or two bottles no matter how much rock I had to clean!

Others may disagree but most of the time I don't even bother to bleach.

I have found bleaching to be an extremely easy & effective method of cleaning algae covered rocks & tank decorations (not all plastics), especially porous, whitish ones like coral rock that one may want to clean up. Rinse well. Bear in mind that, if it came from your tank, you have also destroyed all of the 'cycling' bacteria that was previously residing on that rock, etc.

[ambushman2j]

yeah I use maybe 1 cup of javex for a whole bucket of rocks, then rinse with hot water, then cold, then hot, then cold and air dry..not sure what that much javex would be needed for