Where can I buy rocks?

[Jen]

I want to build some rock formations, but the slate at my LFS is very expensive. Can I buy rock at a hardware store or from a landscaping supply store? If so, what do I have to do to it to make it aquarium safe?

 

[cutechic]

Yes, you can buy slate or rocks at either of those places. It should already be safe to use, but you could try the vinegar test (pour vinegar on it; if it bubbles, it should not be used in the aquarium). You might want to boil them, too.

 

[nmarc3627]

i got all my rocks from a creek in my backyard. just get the rocks, put them in a bucket with water and bleach and let them soak. then take out and scub. then rinse really good.

 

[Dane]

Yeah, I tend to boil things as well.

 

[Jae1525]

I hear you can bake rocks 2!!!

 

[Tolak]

Landscaping outfits are the cheapest source of rock that I've found. I use a bucket with hot water and a couple ounces of bleach. I then soak them in clean water with double the amount of declorinator.

Be careful if you decide to bake them in the oven. Heard somewhere that if there is a pocket of air or water in the rock it can expand and make the rock explode. Don't know how violently it would explode, wouldn't want to risk wrecking a perfectly good oven.

Tolak

 

[Blacky]

yes thats true they do explode and make a nasty mess but most of the time its at extreme temps but if you put them in the oven on a moderate heat about 180oC in australia for a long time it should not hurt them or the oven

 

[Max]

lava rock from homedepot....

 

[Jae1525]

I bake mine a 180c for an hour.
Never had an explosion yet...

I made eggs once in the microwave and forgot to pierce the yolk!!
I TOOk EM OUT AND THEY EXPLODED IN MY FACE ONE BY ONE!!
That rly hurt but it aint nuthin to do w/ rocks... I'm sure they would hurt more.
I wondered if I could microwave rocks to sterilise them once.
I would suspect not! As the microwaves make the particles of things shake until the friction of it heats up... If an air poket was in the rock and got heated to expansion it would defo blow!!

 

[gmen5681]

i just got some rocks from the creek scrubed them with a toothbrush in warm water, then boiled them, and then baked them for about 10 mins.

 

[Zenn]

Me, i got some flint rocks from my local park, i had a look in a fish store, same sort of rocks, same size too, but HECK! 70 quid for one of them and i picked up 7 from my park for free!

Yeah the fish store ones where clean, but after cleaning them in boiling water, a good scrub down and a day sterilising them, they were just as good if not better...

I could do that with slat too, though where i work a HUGE piece of slat i have my eye on, only costs 2.99 and i am thinking of getting it...

 

[Blusypder]

i just rinse them of w/ hot water and scrub them down.
havent had a problem yet.

go to lowes hardware they have a bag of slate for $5 (US) and a can of river rock or $4 (US).

 

[eSUng15]

I just use anything I find in the house that's ceramic or like made of clay or something. I got this leaning tower of piza I might use and all you have to do boil the crap out of it, and then let it cool and add it to the tank...I have ALot of drift too that I juss boil up real good to be safe.