hi all

i believe you can use garden cobbles in your tank
I have a bunch of perfect cobbles in raised beds in my garden

Could I use a few of them,
most are there a few years, some are there two months,
would i scrub and/or boil?

thanks

4

hi
i used garden rocks in my tank befor i just gave then a good rinse and never had any prob
but i could be so wrong and this could be so bad. but it looked good lol

Scrub the hell outta them and them boil them in a pot with some salt added.
Should be grand to use then!

Others experience of them may be fine but you need to think about it first. Have you previously scrubbed these cobbles or perhaps had chemicals on them be it chemicals for the garden or indeed just to clean the cobbles up?
If you are intent on using them,Id recommending scrubbing the hell outta them and lots of boiling hot water. Personally Id be slow to use them but Im certainly no expert.
Gavin

I would have to say I am with Gavin on this one, I would not personally use them!

first: may i suggest the vinegar test! wash dirt off then on the different areas and colours put a drop of vinegar if it bubbles fizzes then they will effect your water

Second: half or break 0ne or two and look at the structure within and compare to pictures on the net. i did this with some rocks i had and there were visible rings close to the surface which to me was enough to discourage their use!



consider the time they have been in the garden etc and what chemicals have been used now consider the amount of time these chemicals have had to permeate this rock. boiling will remove some possibly not all. then you risk over time these chemicals leaching in to the tank.

Water changes will keep the levels below the harmful level but will not change the long term effects these chemicals could have on your stock. Thus why I would not use them.

others may or may not agree with this! Or may have some better suggestions.

thanks all

they are in now, i scrubbed and boiled them, fingers crossed

rgds

4

i wouldnt use them !!!!best off spending few quid on sand /coral and some java rock

I would agree with John, unless you know EXACTLY what they are "made off" eg. they could have a mineral stripe etc. that is toxic... Had a customer from Wexford, kept f/w rays but they were always getting ulcers... he kept treating them and it would clear up, then come back??? So turned out he got some "lovely big rocks" from his local river...so i told him to take them out-he did and his fish no longer get ulcers!!!!???? That was 2 years ago all still well!!!

hi all

i'm getting paranoid now......
damn internet, i have read on lots of places that they're fine to use!
including good old itfs
www.irishfishkeepers.com/cms/component/o...w/catid,19/id,28874/

they are exactly what i want though...
they are scottish beach cobbles and are perfect
in shape size and colour, i only have about five in

they are also weighing down the roots i got in aquatic village yesterday

I assume its not possible to get these type in the lfs

mmm what to do, decisions

rgds

4

You can buy cobbles for pebble pools/ponds in most Garden/Aquatic centres...just make sure they are for ponds, these will be fine, just,as i said above, IMO a bit risky to put them in from other sources, could always "seal" them with a clear silglaze used to seal ponds, would "lock in" any harmful minerals/metals etc!!!!