habbie
starting to shine!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 48
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Post by habbie on Nov 1, 2011 16:27:17 GMT -5
I was going to give my daughter some polished rocks to put in her aquarium. I mentioned this in a group of people and one of them said he had read that some rocks could kill the fish. I have never heard of this before so I came to the experts. So is there rocks that can harm fish? I know this sounds wacky but would hate to be know as "Grampa Fish Killer" LOL
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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Nov 1, 2011 16:34:37 GMT -5
I think you are safe with agates, jaspers, quartz, etc. I'd avoid minerals like malachite though.
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Post by jakesrocks on Nov 1, 2011 17:29:50 GMT -5
Any quartz mineral is OK, but shy away from the others. Especially any that contain copper minerals or any of the heavy minerals. Also calcite will start to slowly dissolve and change the PH of your water.
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Nov 1, 2011 18:09:47 GMT -5
I am saving my little tumbler filler (mostly agates) as well as some larger plain clearish agates to use for aquarium gravel. I plan to place a light beneath the tank so the stones glow.
One also should not use shells in a tank, any stones you do use should be steeped in boiling water to sanitize them, though that would be less of an issue with polished stones than it would be using rough rocks.
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habbie
starting to shine!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 48
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Post by habbie on Nov 1, 2011 18:24:03 GMT -5
darn!!!! and I have a bunch of it polished
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Minnesota Daniel
freely admits to licking rocks
A COUPLE LAKERS
Member since August 2011
Posts: 891
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Post by Minnesota Daniel on Nov 1, 2011 18:51:54 GMT -5
As a long time, I mean years and years, aquarium keeper, 'til just a year ago, I would point one thing out: Algae. Don't waste polished stones using them for gravel, or anything too small. It will take very little time for algae, brown or green, to cover shiny polished rocks, and some algae is very hard to remove. If you are going to use them, keep them on the big size, large enough to easily retrieve and clean with a brush in the sink. Just my 2 cents worth.
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grayfingers
Cave Dweller
Member since November 2007
Posts: 4,575
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Post by grayfingers on Nov 1, 2011 19:03:31 GMT -5
Daniel, that is right. Algae is a pain with stones. I used to breed angelfish, cory cats and live bearers, had 10 tanks going at one point. Now I have one tank and lots of rocks... I do use lots of stones in my tank, the key to keeping algae out is changing the water frequently. High nitrate levels are the problem. Also, there is a product that is non-chemical called ALGONE. It is safe for plants as well. It is added to the filter, and it removes and retains nitrates, nitrites, and ammonia.
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Minnesota Daniel
freely admits to licking rocks
A COUPLE LAKERS
Member since August 2011
Posts: 891
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Post by Minnesota Daniel on Nov 1, 2011 19:35:50 GMT -5
GF,
I used to keep a plant aquarium -- canister filter, double the lighting, carbon dioxide injection. Nitrogen (iron actually) become the limiting factor, I had to test for both and fertilize with potassium nitrate, and iron chelate, weekly at least. When I got the balance correct, the plants pearled - supersaturated oxygen, tiny bubbles off the leaf tips to the surface - and with the right algae eaters, there was almost no algae, it was out competed by the the plants. Slim margin of error though.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,466
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Post by Sabre52 on Nov 1, 2011 20:40:27 GMT -5
I used to really lover silicified petrified wood in my aquarium, especially the Arizona Rainbow wood. Quartz gems should not harm your fish but any metallic ores ( especially copper or lead) may kill fish and especially invertebrates. As someone has said, agate, jasper, rhyolite etc, all work well but can sometimes be hard to keep clean. I'd avoid cut hunks as they may contain oil etc from the sawing...Mel
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Post by deb193redux on Nov 2, 2011 21:13:54 GMT -5
also avoid dyed agate, because the dye will leach out and is often toxic
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Post by Toad on Nov 2, 2011 23:24:17 GMT -5
Guess you cam to the right place habbie...
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Post by stonesthatrock on Nov 2, 2011 23:40:06 GMT -5
My AZ Rainbow wood looks super in a fish tank...... I have lots of it for sale if you need some nice pieces that will stand up or some to lay down. I have a man come over and buy some just to make a landscape sort of thing using the pet wood. And when its wet OMG the colors..... mary ann
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amyk
fully equipped rock polisher
I'm a slabber, I'm a cabber, I'm a midnight wrapper.
Member since January 2010
Posts: 1,331
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Post by amyk on Nov 3, 2011 0:10:08 GMT -5
I made a landscape from unpolished chunks of pet wood in my fish tank. An algae eater is a very hard worker in my tank.. I havent seen any algae yet. I have plastic plants, all of them spic and span. My gravel is store bought, but I was thinking to use tumbled stones as well. this thread gives me food for thought on that subject.
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Minnesota Daniel
freely admits to licking rocks
A COUPLE LAKERS
Member since August 2011
Posts: 891
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Post by Minnesota Daniel on Nov 3, 2011 13:53:13 GMT -5
One thing that does help some with algae is duckweed. It sucks up nutrients as it multiplies. You just periodically harvest some of it. Get it where you get your fish, not from a pond, or you'll introduce all kinds of algae and other pests and diseases. It takes time for all the different species of algae to find their way into the aquarium, and to find their niche, so don't be too disappointed when you start seeing new kinds your fish don't eat. It's a pain to clean out algae, that's certain, but it's still worth keeping fish. Good luck!
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habbie
starting to shine!
Member since February 2011
Posts: 48
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Post by habbie on Nov 4, 2011 11:39:10 GMT -5
Thanks for all the help, I now have an idea of what to do. I'm going into the hamster business lmao
again thanks for all the imput
habbie
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