rocks, can i use em?

[vantgE]

I was told not to use rocks with cement on but there is just a little bit and I am haveing troubles finding big rocks for the base of my pile without it, and one nice rock without cement seems to have rust on it it is a blueish rock with a bit of red in some areas which looks like rust

so?

thanks

 

[cometcattle]

You could chisel off the cement .

 

[vantgE]

I did that with the biger parts but a thin layer stays on and most of the parts are too little to knock off

 

[digital_run]

Get a wire brush and some really hot water and scrub the cement right off...also i think theres a chemical cleaner that u can but at Home Depot ( or whatever u have in your area ) that will help take the cement off the stone....Id suggest boiling it after and make sure that its clean...

 

[Stryker]

cement in your tank will affect the PH of your water...... think its an alcaline? (spelling)

I'd not put cement in your tank. FYI when peeps build cement garden pools you have to use a special sealing paint to not only waterproof it but to also keep the water off the cement.

 

[Zippy]

Id agree not to use cement in your tanks, but it can be easily removed from your rocks, but boil it for several hours after to removeany last traces and also to clean it.

 

[vantgE]

yes about the last traces can I still use rocks with them cause boiling for hours is not an optionm with this many rocks, and what about the rust?

 

[vantgE]

what about bleaching instead of boiling it i've already bleached and i know you can do it if it's cleaned up well and i can poor boiling water over it i have done this

 

[Dragonscales]

maybe try some diluted hydrochloric acid to clean it? Just be absolutely sure to wash every last trace of it off before even thinking about putting it in your tank though, I'd go so far as to soak it in a bucket of water which I'd change every day for about a week.