/real/ Gravel..

[thelastbetta]

Gravel is so expensive where I live. There is a school like not even a block away and it's got gravel in it's playground area. Could I clean those and use those instead of the fake colorful gravel? If so how would I clean them? just rinse in hot water? rinse in soapy hot water? or..?

 

[emma12321]

Hi,

I wouldn't recommend you get it from there as it could have all kinds of things that are toxic to fish hidden in it. If you go to a garden centre or building supplies place you can pick up bags of pea gravel really cheap just put it in a bucket a bit at a time and run water through it swirling it round until the water runs clear. Alternatively sand is a good option especially for corys and loaches buy childrens play sand (£2.50 in UK for a huge sack) and rinse the same way. The fish stores sell the same stuff just overprice it in smaller bags.

Emma

 

[thelastbetta]

There are no garden stores where I live.. We only have two pet stores, one prices gravel for 7.99 a bag and the other for 7.21 a bag.

 

[SkiFletch]

You dont have any hardware stores around you? If you do, I'd check there first, and if not, well... I'd gamble but thats just me. I'd imagine most people around this place wouldnt though. If you REALLY want to clean them though first rinse them thoroughly, then boil them repeatedly, draining the boiling water each time and re-filling with tap. Boil it until your sick of bioling it, then do it once more

 

[modernhamlet]

There are no garden stores where I live.. We only have two pet stores, one prices gravel for 7.99 a bag and the other for 7.21 a bag.

hardware stores, Home Depot/Lowes type stores, landscape suppliers any number of places would have small gravel that would be more appropriate than what you'd find in a parking lot...

If you have 2 LFS within striking distance, surely you can find a place that sells gravel. Alternately, you could go with sand. Swimming pool supply stores (pool filter sand), builder's supply stores (sandblasting), hardware stores, or even toy stores (play sand) may carry some form of sand.

Think outside of the box... And unless you're buying high-end planting substrates, never buy from a fish store. They're just too expensive.