Rocks from the beach...

[Origami Gourami]

Hi All,

I have just returned from a great break by the coast and was fortunate enough to collect around 15kg of beautiful rock in varying shades and shapes for a new freshwater discus tank I am planning.

I was just wondering how to best prepare these rocks before installing in the new tank (which has yet to be purchased! )

My plan is to do several intensive boils on each rock and allow them to soak in fresh water between, hopefully removing any remaining salt and toxins. Is there anything else I ought to be doing?

I do not have the funds for any RO equipment. I figure I have plenty of time to prepare and season these rocks naturally before the necessary funds are accumulated to actually buy the tank, so it need not be impossible!

The rocks did not come directly from the sea, but from the neighbouring area, so they have been more sun-baked and rain soaked, rather than fully immersed in saltwater on a daily tidal basis.

The range and quantity of rocks I gathered are really nice, plenty of subtle shades and interesting shapes. All at the cost of zero (minus vertebrae surgery in a couple of years after carrying them back home!)

Any thoughts gratefully received!

OG

 

[Blade118]

well i wouldt do what ur doin to be on the safe side (some fish cant cope with the salt) but doin what u said would prob work


what fish u hoping to get

 

[Origami Gourami]

That's why I'm in no hurry, in order to make sure the rocks are properly and completely safe, seasoned and soaked.

On the fish side, I've got four discus at the moment, but I'm hoping to get around ten in a large 400 - 500 litre (uk) tank, so they've got plenty of room for growth and manoevres. I fancy some Red Marlboros, Scribbles and Leopard Discus, nice and fancy!

If I can use this rock it would save a fortune, I reckon it would cost upwards of £100 just for having the 'aquarium' tag on it from a stockist! Just want to double check I'm going about it the right way...

Any thoughts anyone?

 

[zig]

Yeah i dont see why it wouldnt work if done correctly, you would probably get a better response to the thread if this was in the chit chat section as its not about plants, as long as the rocks are of the correct type and not limestone or sandstone i wouldnt see a problem with it, and if the rocks seemed quite porus id probably not use them, there is a pinned article about rocks by The Wolf in the chit chat section, im not sure if it covers rocks from the sea but it will tell you which ones are safe to use.

 

[George Farmer]

"80 Litre Tank

1 Red Turquoise Discus
2 Red Melon Discus
1 Cobalt Blue Discus
2 Bronze Corys
1 Peppered Cory
4 Cardinal Tetras
2 African Dwarf Frogs
1 Red Tail Black Shark"

No offence but I consider your tank to be massively overstocked. I wouldn't keep 2 Discus in an 80 litre (20 Gallon) let alone 4 with your other fish. Sincere apologies if I've misunderstood your sig.

 

[modernhamlet]

"80 Litre Tank

1 Red Turquoise Discus
2 Red Melon Discus
1 Cobalt Blue Discus
2 Bronze Corys
1 Peppered Cory
4 Cardinal Tetras
2 African Dwarf Frogs
1 Red Tail Black Shark"

No offence but I consider your tank to be massively overstocked. I wouldn't keep 2 Discus in an 80 litre (20 Gallon) let alone 4 with your other fish. Sincere apologies if I've misunderstood your sig.

[snapback]882236[/snapback]​

80 liters?

"Houston, we have a problem..."

 

[Origami Gourami]

No offence taken, to clarify;

The four discus are juveniles, nowhere near fully grown yet - hence the much larger tank capacity planned soon. We're talking two and a half inches average - I got them when they were very young and have had them six months.

The RTBS is also a young'un - an inch and a half.

The rest don't equate to much space wise either; four tetras, two tiny ADFs and three small corys (the latter two groups occupying the lower level and leaving clear swimming space above for the discus).

This tank is in perfect balance and although if you consider the full adult size of these fish in 1-2 years it might sound cramped, it isn't currently. The larger capacity needs of this stock are already being planned (as mentioned in my original thread about expansion) and will be in place long before the fish outgrow this set-up.

It might be worth mentioning I am in the UK, as I have often encountered cubic volume differences between USA and UK measurements. Not sure if that's relevant, but thought I'd mention.

Trust me, I didn't just fling these fish together, a great deal of research and advice (from many sources) went into this. I do not take the responsibility lightly! I was horrified the other day when I was at my stockist and a nearby customer had bought two full size Pigeon Blood Discus (totalling nearly £100), that were bagged up and ready, then as an afterthought asked 'what do they eat, flakes?' Irresponsible fishkeeping should be discouraged and I am happy to clarify any concerns you may have over my set-up. Hopefully I've now done that!

Now, back to the rocks...

 

[Origami Gourami]

Thanks Zig,

tracked down Wolf's post in ChitChat.

Cheers!

OG

 

[George Farmer]

No offence taken, to clarify;

The four discus are juveniles, nowhere near fully grown yet - hence the much larger tank capacity planned soon. We're talking two and a half inches average - I got them when they were very young and have had them six months.

The RTBS is also a young'un - an inch and a half.

The rest don't equate to much space wise either; four tetras, two tiny ADFs and three small corys (the latter two groups occupying the lower level and leaving clear swimming space above for the discus).

This tank is in perfect balance and although if you consider the full adult size of these fish in 1-2 years it might sound cramped, it isn't currently. The larger capacity needs of this stock are already being planned (as mentioned in my original thread about expansion) and will be in place long before the fish outgrow this set-up.

It might be worth mentioning I am in the UK, as I have often encountered cubic volume differences between USA and UK measurements. Not sure if that's relevant, but thought I'd mention.

Trust me, I didn't just fling these fish together, a great deal of research and advice (from many sources) went into this. I do not take the responsibility lightly! I was horrified the other day when I was at my stockist and a nearby customer had bought two full size Pigeon Blood Discus (totalling nearly £100), that were bagged up and ready, then as an afterthought asked 'what do they eat, flakes?' Irresponsible fishkeeping should be discouraged and I am happy to clarify any concerns you may have over my set-up. Hopefully I've now done that!

Now, back to the rocks...

[snapback]882818[/snapback]​

I was hoping for a similar response. Thanks for claryfying.

 

[Origami Gourami]

No probs!

Hope to have the new 500L tank purchased, up and running well before xmas. I can't wait to see them in it, even though they'll look a little lost for a while!

OG