CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

Just Curious about what items i.e Rocks and driftwood etc have an effect on water conditions? Can anyone tell me what affect certain items have? Also What types of rock i shouldnt use in my tanks. What about rocks from the Ocean?? can i treat them some how for use in my tanks? And can i use sand from the beach in the bottom of the tank? (I only live about 100 meters from the beach so it makes it nice and cheap )
Thanks,
Mick.

Driftwood tends to soften the water and lower the pH a bit and rocks, especially onese that dissolve and let off Ca/Mg etc can harden the water and raise the pH...as far as what types of rock, i'm not an expert but I'd say depends on kind of fish and conditions they prefer. I use slate for oscar tank, and some wood is fine also.

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Joe
www.cichlidfish.com

If you want to know if a rock is safe just put a few drops of house hold vinegar on it;
if it fizzes n'stuff that means that it will alter the water quality.
If it doesn't do anything then the rock wonk alter the water quality!

I choose not to take the chance and just buy all of my rocks and driftwood at a aquatic store. I know it's pricey but as I say "assumption is the mother of all ****ups"

As for the sand, I remember reading in a fish book it is not a good idea to put things like water or sand that comes from the ocean because near shore there is alot of micro organisims near shore. This mostly goes for salt water set-ups so, if you boil the sand it should be good, but I'm not sure if it is going to affect the water quality. you could try the test I told you about above to see


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Jamie

Oscars rule!