Rocks

[Katch]

It is perfectly safe to bring stones to the boil starting in cold water.

Rocks can explode in fires if they heat up too rapidly but more usually if they have trapped water inside them that expands rapidly. (Source: mate with a PhD in geology)

If you want a non-heat method; just put them in a 50% bleach solution for a few minutes.

 

[Tizer]

scrub under the hot tap, no need to fanny around with boiling water. job done.

 

[StandbySetting]

It is perfectly safe to bring stones to the boil starting in cold water.

Rocks can explode in fires if they heat up too rapidly but more usually if they have trapped water inside them that expands rapidly. (Source: mate with a PhD in geology)

If you want a non-heat method; just put them in a 50% bleach solution for a few minutes.

PhD in geology or not, when temperature changes so does density, when trapped gas is heated its density decreases and the molecules vibrate and they need to occupy a larger volume of space, now there is a certain threshold of pressure that the rock may be able to withhold, but any fractures or weaknesses can easily be further damaged by increases in pressure internally. There's no need to boil anyway, what's going to be on the rock that is of any significance? A quick rinse and scrub with warm or cold water is fine, I've never had problems with just rinsing rocks in cold water, the only reason for concern would be if they're composed of Calcium Carbonate or if they have Pyrite within their structure.

 

[ShinyCard255]

I scrubbed some rocks under warm tap water and let them dry before putting them in the tank. The fish love the new addition to their home.

Maybe I was just over thinking the whole boiling thing, but scrubbing is much easier