Hi, I have some rocks I need identified if possible. Also are they shrimp/snail safe?
Please excuse the quality, my camera has a bad user, & it's always wet :hihi:
I did a vinegar test initially, but did not put them in a bucket of vinegar... Should i have? I did boil & scrub them several times. There was no reaction from any with vinegar.
first and second look like granite, third looks like some igneous rock (safe), and the fourth looks like quartz.
I'd say the first 2 are probably unsafe, granite can have quite a bit of calcium and vinegar is a terrible test. You need to use muriatic, hydrochloric or sulpheric acid, vinegar simply isn't strong enough to elicit a bubbling reaction except in the softest of calcium, like limestone.
I'm sure you know much more about rocks than I do, but everything I read says granite is ok. Some sites etc. even advise to use it.
I believe you, but I wonder why there is so much info saying the opposite?
Also, calcium is good, but these would give too high of levels?
I wish I had more of the igneous pictured, it's very cool looking in person. I have the pieces laying down to get maximum film coverage. Also some of the best ones are in my CRS/CBS tank, & I don't want to disturb them lol all No-Entrys, with some SSS too. Eggs making me happy
I'm gonna get a better picture of the last one today, it really looks different than my horrible picture.
So after searching the internet, then just searching these forums, I have found that granite for the most part is inert. :icon_roll I suspected this, but...
I still can't positively identify the 1st rock (1st 2 pics), &/or find if it is "safe". Any help is appreciated.
Also here is a slightly better shot of the last rock I'm trying to ID. The snail just got done eating the E. tenellus you see in the previous picture.
That looks like a limonite or limestone - either way they will slowly leach minerals into your tank, both calcium and iron, possibly sulfur depending on region; thus raising GH and possibly pH. Treat like Texas holey rock.
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