Aquarium Rock- What Can't be Used?

[boatboy]

I want to change the appearance of my aquarium from the red, pink, and white gravel that my wife picked out a couple of years ago to something else. I am thinking something like white or tan gravel, but wanted to add larger rocks to it also. I was considering something like small creekrock or cobblestone. I wanted something at least 3/4" in diameter. I am also thinking about using some driftwood also.

I thought about looking around at Home Depot or the like for a kind of rock they use in landscaping or sidewalks. Of course I will look at my LFS also, but this would probably be cheaper. Is there any particular rock that I need to stay away from? Since I am on well water that has a limestone base, I know to stay away from limestone, because I already have hard water. I even considered using spring water to fill it back up with to lower the GH and KH, since they are both on the high side now.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[NeilP]

I am currently looking for types of rock suitable for aquariums.

The general rule (that i can find at the moment) is if you scratch the surface of the rock and pour some acid (like vinegar) on it, if it fizzes it's no good.

If i find out anymore, i'll let you know!

Welcome to the forum

 

[Losi]

The best thing to do is to boil any rocks etc that you wish to use in the tank and also the test that NeilP has mentioned.

I have used rocks and shells etc in the past that I have collected from beaches and these have never had any bad effects on the fish or plants.

 

[poindexter]

hey.....i wanted inexpensive ornaments for a tank,and i happen to live near two rivers so i went down to the shore and picked up a whole whack of stones and just washed them really well. they were fine in my tank, no probs at all......cept one dragon fly larva...hmm musta come from those rocks.....but my fish ate the larva after a while. haha am i rambling on or what? hehe ~dEx

 

[Cory Keeper]

Whichever rocks you choose, check them to see if they have any veins of metal running through them. Many metals, such as copper, can be poisonous to fish.

Anyway, hope that helps a bit

 

[De Plano]

Thanks for pointing that out Cory Keeper, I had never even thought of that.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi boatboy

Just in case you may have corys or other bottom feeders with barbels, or might want to get some in the future, let me remind you that anything larger than small gravel is very likely to cause damage to them.