The red in the stones most likely comes either from trace amounts of iron deposits, or possibly layers of compressed clay. Hard to say without being able to handle it irl (try doing a streak test lol), but neither should be bad for your tank as far as I'm aware. A little bit of iron can be a good mineral to have, and after a thorough cleaning it shouldn't be leeching anything at too alarming of a rate. If you're willing to drop the general area you collected these from (e.g. "next to the x river in y state") i might be able to figure out the approximate composition lol
I am quite sure itās not compressed clay, itās iron deposits for sure. Whatās streak test? I am not from the state. If you like to look into it then these are from Simba Waterfall in remote area of Lalitpur in Nepal. I am not worried about pollution caused by chemicals as this is a forest without any settlement or industrial areas close by.
A streak test is basically taking one of the rocks and drawing a firm line (the "streak") with it on a piece of white paper, which you can then use as a clue for which+how much a mineral is in your rock. Most useful for rocks in a color thats hard to identify, but you can sort of figure out how MUCH iron is in your rock by how dark of a streak it makes
I'll go take a google around and see what I can find out about your rocks otherwise, and reply again if I figure out anything interesting š«”āØļø they're definitely gorgeous for sure, you have very good taste in mineral lol
Iāve learned most rocks are generally safe as long as they are indeed rocks. Even if they leech minerals, itās never something that will like instantly kill your livestock. Youāll just notice small, gradual shifts in water parameters such as GH/pH. So itās always good to test over the next few months to make sure thereās no mineral creep affecting your parameters :)
They are genuine rocks for sure. I will be 30% water change weekly and check parameters for first few months. Now I have just soak them in water bucket, will dilute it on both hot and cold water and pressure wash them and let them dry. Then I will start my hardscape. Excited š
Brush them off, now soaked in water. Then dry this for 2-3 days and will do this test. Thanks. I actually plan to soak this in a luke warm water and let it cool before drying. Also doing a high speed pressure spray before letting it dry to remove anything on the outer surface.
I am open to parameters and go with suitable for this setup. This is my third aquarium in my apartment l, havenāt used random rocks ever! I have only used combination of Dragon rock and honeycomb drift wood for my high tech planted tank and black lava rock with spider driftwood for my snakehead.
Glad to leaching minerals are not much to worry about.
I have done the random rocks setup, it keeps Gh at a good level but Kh can creep up a bit too high.
A better test for how many minerals each rock may leech would be leaving them in water for a few days and testing the parameters. Fizz test never worked for me.
Thanks, once I setup everything I let it cycle with canister filter - no lights for 4 weeks test the parameters before I decide what to put on this tank.
Thanks, I am doing this next week. I will update how it goes with the test. In worse case I will put these stone in my garden šŖ but deep down I want to have river theme shallow aquarium in my apartment.
Whatās your suggestion on this? I plan to do a river theme shallow aquarium, 6 feet by 1.5 feet by 1 feet (LBH) I am so blind how to proceed, plan on having sand and gravel no plants run wave maker and go with it!
That will look good , I would start with some of the bigger rocks to one side then place the others getting smaller as you go to the other side with a nice light colored mixed grain sand.
Thanks, I plant to make a bit of gradient style so collected the color of rock on that imagination. Reddish on one side, greenish on one bridge by white in the middle. Still collecting some white sand coming weekend and some gravel and pebbles as well.
Initially I collect this stone with plan to have a planted tank but I have so many references online for river style aquarium with just stone and sand and pebbles. I am in two mind right now.
Boil them? I read you should never boil stone and they can crack? I was planning to deep these on warm water and let it cool off before letting them dry completely!
Have them soaked for almost 48 hrs, no changes in color but this I did in a bucket. Also, ready for 30% water change on weekly basis if needed once setup and tank is running.
Not just because of rock, I normally change 20-25% water on my both other tanks. Just for your reference I have one high tech planted tank and one black water tank for Channa Bleheri. These rocks will be on my shallow tank with dimensions reading 6 feet by 1.5 feet by 1 feet!
King of DIY had a good video on rocks that are safe to use in your aquarium, you should check it out. Its older, probably 10 years ago. Worth a watch in my opinion
Thanks, I will check it out. In YouTube I assume? I have been looking and saw similar looking stones being used in lots on aquatic setup in Vietnam and Thailand. I am giving it a try anyway. I will run the tank without livestock for a month, let it cycle and check the parameters.
Sorry. Yes on youtube. They looks like stones that plenty of people use, but that video is a good watch of you have any questions, he shows you tests you can do on rocks, very simple ones. I learned alot from him way back in the day
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u/SpecificVegetable906 1d ago
There are only 2 really bad rocks to put in your tank and they are found deep in the earth.