Cool-Looking Rock, But Not Sure If It's Safe.

[FishBlast]

^ I tried to prepare this rock for my tank, so that I could spread out the bushes and use it as a support.
But after putting it in hot water, I noticed an odd smell of clay coming from it, in addition to a sizzling sound but then again rocks may have holes that hold air pockets in them.
Should I test it with vinegar or something? (not sure if there is any left around the house though...).

 

[Akasha72]

there was another thread on here recently about what rocks are safe and how to test them. It might be worth doing a search and seeing if you can find it. It might answer your question

 

[FishBlast]

there was another thread on here recently about what rocks are safe and how to test them. It might be worth doing a search and seeing if you can find it. It might answer your question

Already did a search, but for some reason I cannot find it. Hence this post.
I remember reading something about vinegar use I've read in that thread.

 

[fluttermoth]

To be honest, testing rocks with vinegar won't help; vinegar is just not a strong enough acid; you really want to use a rust remover

The clay smell and the bubbles are nothing; like you said, just air pockets and the smell of wet rock.

It looks like limestone to me, but I'm no expert.

 

[FishBlast]

To be honest, testing rocks with vinegar won't help; vinegar is just not a strong enough acid; you really want to use a rust remover

The clay smell and the bubbles are nothing; like you said, just air pockets and the smell of wet rock.

It looks like limestone to me, but I'm no expert.

Yeah, it looks somewhat like limestone, but I have some limestone and it looks a bit different from it, more square-ish and has a different, chalk-like smell, not clay smell.
However, it doesn't look like my river rocks either nor smell like them.

 

[Tonyb111111]

A household scale remover that is hydrochloric aside based would do the job. Just be sure to thoroughly clean if you do use it. Viakal would be a good one to use

Just found the topic about rocks My link

 

[FishBlast]

A household scale remover that is hydrochloric aside based would do the job. Just be sure to thoroughly clean if you do use it. Viakal would be a good one to use

Just found the topic about rocks My link

Never heard of such stuff And pretty scared to use other possibly dangerous stuff on something that will go in the tank... Maybe I should look for another rock or something. I found this rock in the park, between those white gravel paths they have.
Thank you for finding the link.

By color it looks like limestone, but its texture and smell differs. Still must contain some calcium since it's white.

Oh well, going to the park again to get more rocks. I feel like a bird building a nest. LOL.

 

[FishBlast]

Found another cool-looking, but rather strange-shaped rock.
It's mostly grayish-black, with some white lines over it, similar to one of my river rocks. But it is triangular, lol.
At least it will hold more of the grass down and cover that annoying elongated brown rock I have.
It's currently kept in hot water, I'll then chill it with extremely cold water and then with more warm water and then it's ready.

 

[FishBlast]

This is said rock. The white blots are actually the dry parts of it. It goes black when wet.

 

[Crossfire]

Place the rock in a bucket of water and test the pH before adding the rock. After a few days, should the pH change, the rock is unsafe.

 

[FishBlast]

Place the rock in a bucket of water and test the pH before adding the rock. After a few days, should the pH change, the rock is unsafe.

I can't test PH unfortunately. -.-
I've got same type of rocks in my tank for a long time now though.
(same type as the black one in the new pic)

 

[FishBlast]

I added the black rock to the tank, keeping the white one next to the tank, I think the white one looks best dry anyway. And gives the table somewhat of a nice look.

LOL the swordtails are already trying to figure out whose rock it will be from now on. They're fighting over it -.- Crazy fish. Every time I add something new, they have to bicker over it until one gives up.