Another New Aquarium Question

[John DeBoo]

Once I settle on an aquarium, I'd like to add some Shale and Lava rocks
from our local area to create a nice looking setting and to provide some
'hiding' space for any fish wanting to do so. I know that this not
recommended due to possible contamination issues. HOWEVER - if these
items were soaked in say a 5% or 10% solution of bleach, then thoroughly
soaked & rinsed, would they likely be OK from contaminates and perhaps
minerals(?), or should I simply bite the bullet and pay a heavy price
for features from my local fish store? I'll use whatever gravel comes
with the set up and would really like to make it look nice inside,
however the safety of my little finned friends is more important than
the use of local rocks.

Thoughts, comments, absolutes?

Grandpa John

[John DeBoo]

Jeffrey St. Clair, Ph.D. wrote:
> IMHO, I would just boil your rocks for about 30 minutes. Botulinum, the
> bacteria which causes botulism lives adundantly in common dirt. It takes
> roughly 20 minutes to kill the bacteria, so you could do 30 just for good
> measure if you want. ;) If the rocks are two big, you can bake them at 300
> degrees for an hour. Does the same thing.

That'd work for me. These are no more than 6" max dia, probably closer
to 4" - the pieces of lava rock.

> Also, I wouldn't recomend shale as it composed of clay and sometimes can
> release petroleum into the water. Lava rocks work great. Limestone also
> great. Holey Rock, which is limestone, is also a great option and really
> cheap on ebay. It might raise your pH a tiny bit, but you can monitor that
> pretty easily.

Ahhh, didn't think of that with the Shale. I liked it because it was
fairly thin and would make a nice platform on top of the lava as well as
a somewhat secure hiding place for the fish. Maybe we have some
limestone or sandstone around locally I can use. If not I'll likely buy
at a store. I was going to use some "Desert Rose" (Gypsum) but found
it'd likely fall apart in water over time sooo...

We have some really nice red & black granite here too and I'd thought of
using it as the gravel as it would look nice, then remembered all the
work required to crush it. Plus I had a concern with the sharp edges.
Rocks & minerals are another of my hobbies and I'm a novice at it too.

Grandpa John

[Reel McKoi[_10_]]

"John DeBoo" > wrote in message
. ..
> Once I settle on an aquarium, I'd like to add some Shale and Lava rocks
> from our local area to create a nice looking setting and to provide some
> 'hiding' space for any fish wanting to do so. I know that this not
> recommended due to possible contamination issues.

I use rocks from the yard and woods with no problems at all. Just don't use
porous rocks from agricultural areas where toxic sprays or spills could have
occurred. Shale is not porous so should be safe. No need to spend a bundle
at the pet shop for rocks.

HOWEVER - if these
> items were soaked in say a 5% or 10% solution of bleach, then thoroughly
> soaked & rinsed, would they likely be OK from contaminates and perhaps
> minerals(?),

Bleach wouldn't stop minerals from leeching from a rock that leeches.
Bleach (the chlorine in it) is only a disinfectant. It kills bacteria and
viruses.

or should I simply bite the bullet and pay a heavy price
> for features from my local fish store? I'll use whatever gravel comes
> with the set up and would really like to make it look nice inside,

Then skip the horrid red, blue and other unnatural looking gravels. Stick to
natural colors.

> however the safety of my little finned friends is more important than the
> use of local rocks.
>
> Thoughts, comments, absolutes?

If you plan to keep fish that do better in acid or neutral water skip the
limestone rocks.

>
> Grandpa John
--

RM....
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö>

[Reel McKoi[_10_]]

"Jeffrey St. Clair, Ph.D." > wrote in
message ...
>
> Also, I wouldn't recomend shale as it composed of clay and sometimes can
> release petroleum into the water.
=====================
This really surprised me as just about every pet shop sells shale. I've used
ir for years and never was aware of any problems.
--

RM....
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö>

[Reel McKoi[_10_]]

"John DeBoo" > wrote in message
...
(brevity snips)
> We have some really nice red & black granite here too and I'd thought of
> using it as the gravel as it would look nice, then remembered all the work
> required to crush it. Plus I had a concern with the sharp edges. Rocks &
> minerals are another of my hobbies and I'm a novice at it too.
=====================
I buy all my aquarium gravel at Lowe's. You can get a 50lb bag of natural
brown gravel for less than $4. :-) They also sell bags of other natural
stone and rock that looks great in an aquarium. It needs little rinsing
before use.
--

RM....
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö>

[Reel McKoi[_10_]]

"Jeffrey St. Clair, Ph.D." > wrote in
message ...
> Are you sure it isn't slate? They look pretty similar as they're
> geologically related. I do better with pictures so I thought I'd share
> one that has a slate plate (lol) in the tank. :)
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifnar/1366340578/in/set-72157601124618440/
====================================

Nope. It doesn't look like that at all. It's thinner and comes in what
looks like flakes with sometimes sharp edges. That looks like the limestone
we have right here on my property.
--

RM....
Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö>

[John DeBoo]

Hi Jeff, I never thought of the landscaping places. Good lead, thanks!
I went to our local fish store this AM to get crickets for our
little toad and snooped at aquariums etc. I noted they had all manner
of different rocks, starting at $2.99/lb for the same lava rocks I
picked up for free along the road<G>.

I'm wondering if the pieces I got are slate instead of shale. Have to
look closer at my books. Whatever it is it's flat, dark gray in color
and splits fairly easily lengthwise. You can see the grain lines
running lengthwise. As time passes I'll learn a lot more about rocks
and fish both and do a much better job of describing and IDing them.

Grandpa John

Jeffrey St. Clair, Ph.D. wrote:
> Hi John,
>
> Nice to meet a fellow rock fan as well! :) You could also find a nice flat
> slab of marble or slate, shale's harder cousin. ;) Do you have any landscape
> supply shops near by? They usually sell in bulk to home builders and pool
> builders, but it's been my experience they'll let you have a dozen rocks for
> around 10 bucks.

[John DeBoo]

Reel McKoi wrote:
>
> "John DeBoo" > wrote in message
> ...
> (brevity snips)
>> We have some really nice red & black granite here too and I'd thought
>> of using it as the gravel as it would look nice, then remembered all
>> the work required to crush it. Plus I had a concern with the sharp
>> edges. Rocks & minerals are another of my hobbies and I'm a novice at
>> it too.
> =====================
> I buy all my aquarium gravel at Lowe's. You can get a 50lb bag of
> natural brown gravel for less than $4. :-) They also sell bags of
> other natural stone and rock that looks great in an aquarium. It needs
> little rinsing before use.


Does it require any special cleaning? I was under the impression that
their rock was treated somehow. If not that'd be great as I have a
Lowe's real close by. I'll have to give them a look see for this stuff,
thanks a bunch!

Grandpa John

[John DeBoo]

Jeffrey St. Clair, Ph.D. wrote:
> Are you sure it isn't slate? They look pretty similar as they're
> geologically related. I do better with pictures so I thought I'd share one
> that has a slate plate (lol) in the tank. :)
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifnar/1366340578/in/set-72157601124618440/

Other than the color, it looks the same as in your pic. Mine is dark
gray and extremely dense. It looks more like solid rock as opposed to a
sandstone sort of look. It's rather heavy too. Time to hit the books
to better ID it.

Grandpa John

[Tristie[_2_]]

On Sep 21, 2:02 pm, John DeBoo > wrote:
> Jeffrey St. Clair, Ph.D. wrote:
>
> > Are you sure it isn't slate? They look pretty similar as they're
> > geologically related. I do better with pictures so I thought I'd share one
> > that has a slate plate (lol) in the tank. :)
>
> >http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifnar/1366340578/in/set-72157601124618440/
>
> Other than the color, it looks the same as in your pic. Mine is dark
> gray and extremely dense. It looks more like solid rock as opposed to a
> sandstone sort of look. It's rather heavy too. Time to hit the books
> to better ID it.
>
> Grandpa John

Sandstonme is a good stone to use as well. We do not have any stones
in this area, and all are imported from the north end of the state or
out of state. I never fail to stop and pick up a rock no matter where
its at if I see it laying there. Rocks area a premium so I sure do
not let them lay. I normally rtinse my rocks I find, and then treat em
with a dip of Potassium Permanganate or common househood bleach
(chlorox) rinse well and allow to air dry in the sun. Within 24 to 48
hours all traces of chlorox will have dissapated since air and sun
make it inert in short order, and they are good to go. I have slate,
shale and sandstone and in some tanks also use limestone. Limestone
will alter or can alter ph. Use white vinegar and drop some on rocks
your not sure of iand if it fizzies its linestone based. I know my
cichlids certainly would be disturbed if I took out my slate and shale
rock wall that literally covers the entire back of a 75 gal
tank.........never had any film come off any rock after I washed them
properly.....not saying it can't happen, but I have never seen it.

[Reel McKoi[_10_]]

"John DeBoo" > wrote in message
. ..
> Reel McKoi wrote:
>> I buy all my aquarium gravel at Lowe's. You can get a 50lb bag of
>> natural brown gravel for less than $4. :-) They also sell bags of other
>> natural stone and rock that looks great in an aquarium. It needs little
>> rinsing before use.
>
>
> Does it require any special cleaning? I was under the impression that
> their rock was treated somehow.

No. They have no reason to treat it. All I do is rinse it out a few times
with clean water and use it.

If not that'd be great as I have a
> Lowe's real close by. I'll have to give them a look see for this stuff,
> thanks a bunch!
>
> Grandpa John
--

RM....

Zone 6. Middle TN USA
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö>