Aquarium Ornaments

Question: Aquarium ornaments / rocks in particular for fresh water tank?

(Posted by: ~ Ashen ~ on 2008-05-02 10:30:06)

My husband is an avid rock collector and he has this stalagmite or stalactite (can’t remember which , it does have a lot of growth rings) any way it is very large with a huge hole through the middle, it looks perfect for my aquarium I put it in there last night and then remembered that I didn’t know what body of water it came from (cave, salt water or fresh water…I don’t know) So, I took it out until I could talk to you guys. All I know is , it’s big and makes a perfect cave for my little fish, when I originally put it in there it let off a stream of bubbles (it was washed before hand), but I was worried that it might put minerals that are not suppose to be in a fresh water tank. I love my fish very much, and I don’t want to put anything in there that can potentially hurt them. What do you think..is it safe or not?

Posted by: northern_monday on 2008-05-02, 11:10:44

There are two easy tests to see if you can place a rock inside a tank: 1) Can you see any crystals or minerals on the surface of the rock? If you can it's not safe. 2) The vinagar test. Plase the rock in vinagar or pour the vinagar onto the rock. Does it fizz? If so it's not safe. Stalagmites and stalactites are mineral deposites, so if you added them to the tank, the minerlas would disolve changing the chemistry of the water. It's not safe to add them Have a look here, it's a list of safe rocks to add to a tank fishforums.net/ index.php?s= f769cd54ddf95ca7fe50233ac074cc4d &showtopic= 55806 maybe your husband has something else you can have.

Posted by: Lee S on 2008-05-02, 10:35:20

The chances of this rock being completely safe is relatively small. By the same token I do not believe there is eminent and immediate danger either. Effects will take days or weeks to be seen.

Posted by: kim_tma on 2008-05-02, 10:37:47

Well I would think that it would be safe b/ c all stalagmite or stalactite is- deposited calcium carbonate. Word of caution though. After a while the rock will start breaking down. The calcium carbonate shouldn't hurt your tank. If you have snails they will love you for it. Hope this helps.

Posted by: dopehank on 2008-05-02, 10:40:51

It most likely will be ok. It probably will put more minerals into the water, which could actually help the fish. Keep an eye on them, test the water weekly, but don't worry. You should be good to go.

Posted by: iminlove on 2008-05-02, 10:45:26

Its hard to say it could be safe or it may be bag it takes a few days to know ask ur husben what kind it is and ask ur fishes vet (if they have one mine did and do lol)or ask pet store

Posted by: Alex W on 2008-05-02, 10:46:41

You're OK as long as you washed it beforehand. If you're worried about the minerals, don't be. Your tank filter will clean them out. As for the bubbles, there was probably some air in the rock that escaped.

Posted by: Marcus on 2008-05-02, 10:52:36

Not actually sure that either a stalagmite/ ctite is actually a rock as such. It's the culmination of salts dropping from the cave roof one way or another and it has a hole in the middle which tells you something dissolved it, (most likely rain water). Very probably it's mostly calcium, which would with it being as you describe, "very Large ", send your tank PH through the roof. I wouldn't personally take the risk, plus it will reduce the amount of water in your tank by mass. Try the vinegar test; if it gives off bubbles when it comes into contact with acid, it's no use in a fresh water aquarium, you'll either poison or burn your fish.

Posted by: Capt.Quint on 2008-05-02, 10:53:12

The stone you put in the tank is made up completly of minerals, some good but most are not what you want in your tank. If it is actall rock caves you are looking for and not the same old same old check this place out. kavatica.com/ products.html