Using minerals as Aquarium decorations

I've put in many quartz based minerals over the years - one neat trick was a
large quartz crystal (6 inch diameter 10 inches high) placed on the glass
bottom with a string of colored xmas lights taped underneath very cool light
show emitted from the crystal- the cichlids never noticed and in fact
spawned on the side of the crystal

Brad

"Steve" wrote in message
.. .
: wrote:
: Posted to rec.aquaria evidently no one reads it?
: Have since tested all my minerals and so far none have shown any sign
: of reaction to vinegar.
: Original post below:
:
:
: Hi,
: First time poster to the group and a beginning aquarist. I am
: wondering if anyone here can give me advice about using some of my
: rock collection as structure in my aquarium?
: Specifically:
: AMBER
: AGATE
: JASPER
: LAPIS LAZULI
: MALACHITE
: RHODOCROSITE
: SUGILITE
: TOURMALINE
: TURQUOISE
: WHITE QUARTZ
:
: Any information pro or con about these and other minerals as pertains
: to their use in aquariums would be much appreciated.
:
: (I already intend to test all of these with vinegar to see if any of
: them fizz or not)
:
: Thank you
:
: I'd skip the malachite (copper carbonate hydroxide). The rest sound
: pretty harmless, although rhodochrosite is also a carbonate mineral if
: that's a concern.
:
: I'd also skip any "sharp" mineral specimens that may injure fish, or at
: least dull the edges with abrasive paper.
:
: Sadly, your beautiful minerals may become algae-coated in the aquarium
..
:
: Steve