neutral stones for aquascaping

[finfan]

i am about to purchase stones for my planted tank and want to make sure i purchase stones that are generally neutral - in other words does not have any effect on water chemistry, from my limited knowledge i know to avoid limestones, what else should i stay away from or what should i specifically look for

i plan on going during lunch, so quick feedback is really appreciated

[wesleydnunder]

Re: neutral stones for aquascaping

A test for calcium-based rocks is a drop of sulfuric acid directly on the rock. If it bubbles, it can affect your water. I buy my rocks at the landscape-supply stores; much cheaper than the lfs. There's a good supplier on the west side of 45 south around the Dixie Farm area (if not that exit, maybe the next one north.) I bought Mexican beach rock there a couple years ago for my discus tank. It's rounded and very smooth. I think it's granite.

Mark

[Mzungu]

Re: neutral stones for aquascaping

Where are you planning on going to buy the stones? And are you talking about gravel, or larger stones?

[Tiapan]

Re: neutral stones for aquascaping

most stones are fairly inert, at least in the timeline they will be in a tank. eventually all stones where down do to water and wind, just on a geologic timeline. one we dont need to worry about. also sometimes crystals and mineral rocks are interesting to try. shale/granite/flint and chert (like river coblestones and the like) are all good rock choices. pumice can be rough and scratch some fish or catch food particles and make keepin it clean harder to do. I have some big chucks of rose quartz in one of my tanks and love how that looks.

[cope]

Re: neutral stones for aquascaping

I have rock in my new tank.. it is called   Rustic Rock.. I got it at Maas Nursery in seabrook.... off todville road... .22 cents a pound... I did a 3 week test on the water and no ph gain or loss.. stayed nuetral....

it is way in the back.. so you will need to ask them.. they will say they don't have it.. but they do... it's in the back.. you have to go look... it's in one of those huge wire baskets in an over grown area... good rock and you can stack it like brick... I like it...

[finfan]

Re: neutral stones for aquascaping

i went to sanjacinto rocks in the heights, they have some nice rocks but nothing interested me particularly, if i was looking for a chiclid tank, then i would have gotten some of the stuff they had, but i am looking for 2 or 3 large rocks and about 20 or so smaller ones to make a meandering boundary between aquasoil amazonia and regular light colored gravel (very small granules), i am bummed now, trying to think what i can find between now and this weekend when I plan to fully start the tank