[Eldamo]

I'm setting up my 55g and already have a number of plants. I'm searching for the right piece of driftwood, which I'll be ordering soon online.

What I am now trying to find is a good source for rocks. If I look in the lfs the prices appear to be very high. Where do most people get their rock, is it the lfs, garden supply store or the local river/nature walk?

 

[Chesh]

All of the above! You'll want to be sure to thoroughly scrub any rocks coming into your aquarium and do a test to be sure that the rocks you find won't alter your water hardness. Some people use vinegar, you can also use a drop from the second bottle in API's testkit - it's a stronger acid. If it fizzes, it will harden the water. Personally, I like to soak new rocks in a bucket for a week or two, testing the Ph before and after the soak. Be wary of anything that looks like rust stains or shiny flecks of metal (fools gold) as these aren't good for your tank. There is at least one member on this forum who studies geology - I like to run things by him before putting them in my tank, just to be sure! If you post images of what you come up with, I'm sure he'd be happy to stop by and help out!

 

[Eldamo]

Thanks, I'll keep looking in these places. I'm not sure what type I want yet, but I want a bit more character than a smooth river rock.

 

[Chesh]

I understand! In my 55g, I felt the same way. I didn't want the flat slate rocks, and I didn't really like the 'character' of anything I found at the LFS. Plus. . . paying that much money for rocks kind of boggled my mind!

You do have to be careful, though. Rocks CAN absorb toxins and such over time, the more porous the rock, the higher the chance of this happening, so try to choose collection locations with this in mind. I gathered many of my stones from waterways, but this is not the ideal route to take. If you do, be sure to give them time to dry out, and a good scrubbing/soaking with vinegar before adding them to your tank.

For the record? I'm very paranoid about my tanks, lol. Better safe than sorry!

Happy hunting! I can't wait to see what you find!

 

[Eldamo]

I'll post pictures soon, maybe I should start taking pictures as I put the tank together, but it's a bit random at the moment.

I'll keep your advice in mind once I find some rocks and probably ask a few more questions. I'm doing well with water quality at the moment so don't want to ruin it with a nasty old rock.

 

[Chesh]

YOU SHOULD!!! Start a tank journal thread - it's so much fun (for me) to watch other people's tanks grow - I learn so much! Plus it's always good to keep a running log of what changes you've made and when - it can make a huge difference when/if problems crop up. Sometimes it's easier to do online (I seem to need encouragement to remember to update)

I just realized you posted this in the classified section. This thread probably get more input from other members if it were in the freshwater area - unless you were actually looking to buy rocks from a member? I can move it if you'd like?

 

[Eldamo]

I was unsure where to post this originally so you can move it,( I don't know how).

I need to start a journal as I have already made a number of changes in the last two weeks so losing track already!

 

[ZivaD]

I'm a scavenger - I'm lucky enough to have several great sources nearby that offer a variety of rock type, shapes and sizes. If I absolutely can't find what I want from those places I go to the local garden/landscape place.