Can someone please tell me what the proper procedure for adding rocks or other decorations into my tank. I added a rock and boiled it before putting it in my tank and the next morning all my fish had died. I don't want to make the same mistake again. Also now that my tank is void of fish do I just make some partial water changes and cycle the water for a week or so, or do I totally empty it and start over? Sorry for the long post. Thanks in advance. :help:
What's the proper procedure for decorations?
- Thread starter NERDALERT1
- Start date
Well, I'm no expert, but since no one's advised yet I'll tell you what I feel confident about.
Rocks: different types of rock can be porous and leach minerals into your water; others are very dense and are more inert. Generally you would not want a porous rock in your water, as it can leach into the water. It's good to know the kind of rock--I'm putting slate in my new tank, since I know it's fairly safe. If the rock is crumbly, I'd stay away. Same with wood. I know you should use driftwood, not just cast-off pieces from the woods. You can also bake these things, if they don't fit into a cooking pot. Make sure the pot you boil in has no soap or food residue!!!! I'd do a low simmer for several hours; long, low bake in oven. Anything that does not come from an aquarium supply source needs to be identified. Plain clay pots, thoroughly scrubbed with hot water, are great for hiding places.
No seashells unless you're doing a reef/marine tank. They can leach out undesireable minerals, too.
Sorry this is so piecemeal, but I've been downloading so much info into my brain the last few months . . . hope it's helpful. And maybe I seeded the thread, seems like that often brings more responses. And if I'm wrong about something, somebody will set you straight!! (and please let me know, too!!!)
Happy trails, r
Rocks: different types of rock can be porous and leach minerals into your water; others are very dense and are more inert. Generally you would not want a porous rock in your water, as it can leach into the water. It's good to know the kind of rock--I'm putting slate in my new tank, since I know it's fairly safe. If the rock is crumbly, I'd stay away. Same with wood. I know you should use driftwood, not just cast-off pieces from the woods. You can also bake these things, if they don't fit into a cooking pot. Make sure the pot you boil in has no soap or food residue!!!! I'd do a low simmer for several hours; long, low bake in oven. Anything that does not come from an aquarium supply source needs to be identified. Plain clay pots, thoroughly scrubbed with hot water, are great for hiding places.
No seashells unless you're doing a reef/marine tank. They can leach out undesireable minerals, too.
Sorry this is so piecemeal, but I've been downloading so much info into my brain the last few months . . . hope it's helpful. And maybe I seeded the thread, seems like that often brings more responses. And if I'm wrong about something, somebody will set you straight!! (and please let me know, too!!!)
Happy trails, r
Some types of rock can have a serious impact on your water chemistry, for example, limestone. If you are wanting to add rock and you have no idea what it is, then add a few drops of vinegar to the rock. If it fizzes then it will mess with your water, raising KH (possibly GH) and pH. I think there's also muriatic acid available from hardware stores that gives you a better test than with vinegar.
My first suspicion is that your new rock started buffering your water so fast that your fish went into osmotic shock. If you have some test kits handy check out your tapwater compared to your tank.
My first suspicion is that your new rock started buffering your water so fast that your fish went into osmotic shock. If you have some test kits handy check out your tapwater compared to your tank.
Slate and granit are probably the most common types of rocks for the aquarium. Avoid rocks (and wood espically) that are near areas of pollution. Any wood you use should be completely dead. Drift wood and bog wood are usually. If the wood in the middle is still alive it won't take long to rot in your tank. Store bought decorations should be fine, Just scrub them down with a brush (no chemicals or soaps).
I would change 100% of your water, and get some fish back in there to keep the bio filter going.
By the way, how long had your tank been set up, what size is it and how many and what type of fish were in it? It is possible that it wasn't the decoration, and it was just a coincidence that it happened when you added it. What are you ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate readings?
I would change 100% of your water, and get some fish back in there to keep the bio filter going.
By the way, how long had your tank been set up, what size is it and how many and what type of fish were in it? It is possible that it wasn't the decoration, and it was just a coincidence that it happened when you added it. What are you ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate readings?
I agree with everyone. I would do a 100% water change and clean every thing in the tank just incase. Also placing rock in water with some vinigar is a great trick. I you see bubbles stay way. No bubbles then you should be safe. Also i would try to get the tank back up quickly so not to loss some of those vital bacterias. and get some cheaper fish to put in there and slowing start getting it back on its feet... at least that is what I would do..
Well i have a 300 pound pile of "flag stone" in my back yard so i decided to boil a few of em a do a nice re-arange of my tank so the fish could establish new areas and such.
the rock passed the "fizzy" test and has not affected my water one bit.
The only thing i did to the rock was the "fizzy" test and boiled the heck out of them for 2 hours, drain, 2 hours, drain, rinse and rinse some more then added them to my tank and it was all good.
also did the same for my younger cousins 10 gal molly tank and all is well their also.
the rock passed the "fizzy" test and has not affected my water one bit.
The only thing i did to the rock was the "fizzy" test and boiled the heck out of them for 2 hours, drain, 2 hours, drain, rinse and rinse some more then added them to my tank and it was all good.
also did the same for my younger cousins 10 gal molly tank and all is well their also.
Thanks for all the replies. My tank is a 10 gal that has been set up for about 2-1/2 months. I had 3 small debauwi cats a small clown loach and a medium pleco in it. I had tested my water before putting the rock in the tank and all of my levels were good. The person that I trust at my LFS suggested that the fish went into shock also. I have since taken all decorations out and vacuumed the gravel and I am running the tank as is. I have done 2- 50% water changes and am testing daily. Do you think I can wait as long as a week without fish and not lose too much of the good bacteria? Sorry I forgot to mention I have a small whisper filter on it and a Biowheel 125. Thanks for any input I have learned a great deal already from reading the posts on this site.