rocks

[sharon]

i was just wondering about getting rocks from outside and cleaning them r they ok to put in my tank and how would i clean them ?

 

[Aqua_Princess64]

I'd clean them with bleach. Let the rocks dry out completely before putting them in the tank, though. I'm really not sure if it's safe, but I do it and my fish are fine.

 

[teknikz]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

DO NOT USE BLEACH OR ANY TYPE OF DETERGENTS

boil them in salt water for 30 mins each and when they dry pour a lil bit of vinegar on them.....if they fizz dont use them

 

[sharon]

i have cleaned the rocks with bleach and i have taken a scrub brush to make sure all the dirt is off then i boiled them so the chlorine is out from the bleach and then i soaked them in water with water condtioner r they ok to put in my tank? thnx for ur reply

 

[teknikz]

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT USE THEM ROCKS

its not worth taking the chance of ur fishies dying

 

[sharon]

ok so if i go out and get a different rock and do what u said boil them they will b ok rite?
these ones i have now r not good cause i have already put a bit of bleach in the water to clean then but i did boil them each an hr after the bleach just making sure i dont want then to die

 

[teknikz]

i wouldnt risk usin them..............just try n do what i said b4 to new rocks n it should be fine

 

[cheirodon]

1) Boiling is the safest way to get rid of all living critters, as it doesn't require chemicals at all. Do not drop rocks directly into boiling water, they are most likely to crack. Let them heat up along with the water, gradually.

2) The vinegar test will insure your new rock is not going to dissolve into your tank, and alter water conditions.

This should cover both angles (chemical and biological).



PS. Avoid getting vinegar in the tank, either do the test on a separate identical rock, or rinse thoroughly.

 

[angel_lover]

Hey there neighboor

 

[ticman]

for new rocks the boiling and vinegar test is a good one.

for cleaning badly algaed rocks and plastic plants from the tank, I put them in the dishwasher with 1/4 cup BLEACH. Run them on hot water for 3 to 5 minutes and then run through rinse cycle 3 times and let air dry. Never had a problem and they are clean and safe to use in the tank.

There are also a lot of great looking fake resin rock formations that are light weight and look fantastic. Petsmart and Petco carry as do other catalog sites

Mike

 

[RebeccaShaun]

well I have been taking rocks from our nearby beach to bring home and put in our tank and when i bring them home I use a mild baby shampoo or dishsoap to clean them with along with a scrub brush and when Im done I put them on a metal baking sheet and bake them in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 - 30 minutes when I take them out I cool them and put them in my aquarium with no problems

 

[Inchworm]

i have cleaned the rocks with bleach and i have taken a scrub brush to make sure all the dirt is off then i boiled them so the chlorine is out from the bleach and then i soaked them in water with water condtioner r they ok to put in my tank? thnx for ur reply

Hi sharon.

I have a bunch of rocks in my tanks that I prepared the same way you do, except I air dry them then rinse them, once again, for good measure. I've never had any problems (that I know of) from them.

But, just be aware that you are taking a risk. It might make a difference where they were found (for example, city rocks might be riskier than country rocks, etc.) but you can never be sure what may have gotten on them. If they were near a road or driveway, for example, they could have oil or gasoline residue or other such pollution on them. This kind of dirt may or may not be removed by cleaning.

 

[Inchworm]

a mild baby shampoo or dishsoap to clean them

Hi RebeccaShaun

Please do not use any shampoo or dish detergent, or any other household cleanser in or on anything having to do with you fish tank. These products are toxic to fish and if not 100% removed will kill your fish. They are even harder to remove completely than bleach which, itself, is risky.

It is even a good idea to rinse your hands before feeding your fish or cleaning your tanks to insure that there is no soap residue or other chemical products on them.

 

[RebeccaShaun]

thanks for the info inchworm Im fairly new to all this so any help is appreciated ..
do you recommend baking them as I stated before?

 

[Inchworm]

Hello again, RebeccaShaun

I like the idea of some kind of heat. Baking is probably a good idea since you can get them even hotter than with boiling.

It might be a good idea, though, to heat them slowly, gradually raising the temperature, to avoid cracking them. Cheirodon suggested doing it this way if you boil them and it think it would be a good idea to do the same in the oven.