Alternatives to seiryu stones

[shrimpNewbie]

I don't remember the name but a lot of people that build plywood tanks use it to seal the wood

[DogFish]

Sealing the rocks would pretty much kill the natural effect, I think you are after.

[Algae Beater]

An alternative is using ultramafic granite or other hard, inert stones. CA has its history of volcanic activity. If you can spend the time on a trip to the countryside and look at a geological map you'll likely be rewarded

come to Vancouver, I'll show you the best spots

[Colorful]

Originally Posted by Algae Beater

An alternative is using ultramafic granite or other hard, inert stones. CA has its history of volcanic activity. If you can spend the time on a trip to the countryside and look at a geological map you'll likely be rewarded

come to Vancouver, I'll show you the best spots

Haha thanks for the offer . But, I don't think i'm going to Vancouver anytime soon. I was considering using natural wood charcoal for Smart and Final. Would that work?

[shrimpNewbie]

Im not sure its safe I say try it in a tank with minnows and yuppies for about 5 weeks and document everything

[Colorful]

Will do! I'll report the results in a a month.

[Colorful]

Also, if i were to put fertilizers in the tank with the charcoal, would it absorb he ferts.

[Pearl2011]

I got my rocks from a friend from the river behind her house, I want there but she the perfect rocks.
I dont know, but would boiling make them inert? Then again air pockets can make them explode . . .
As for the charcoal, I didnt know ferts could be absorbed would regular wood do that to?

[Diana]

Activated carbon has a good affinity for more complex molecules, so chelated ferts are likely to be removed from the water. The simple ferts (KNO3, KH2PO4, K2SO4 and most traces) are not removed from the water in amounts great enough to be a problem.
Driftwood, roots of trees and similar materials has no noticeable effect on fertilizers. These materials may release tannins, and this can lower the pH in the tank. This might affect fertilizer availability.

Boiling rocks does nothing about their chemistry. If it is a limestone rock when you put it in the pot it will be a limestone rock when you take it out.
Boiling can help if the rock came from a wet location (lake, river) and you suspect it carries diseases or parasites. Chlorine bleach cleans these rocks of diseases and parasites, too. (Then rinse and soak with a double dose of dechlor. Air drying will also allow chlorine to evaporate)

[Diana]

To find rocks locally look for stores that sell to landscapers, masons and similar professions. Look for:
Rock, Masonry, Soils, Brick, Landscape and similar terms.
Most of these stores will sell by the truckload or by the bag.

Take a few ziplocks and a sharpie pen.
Take a sample of whatever you are interested in and label the baggie.
Test it at home.

[Colorful]

Originally Posted by Diana

To find rocks locally look for stores that sell to landscapers, masons and similar professions. Look for:
Rock, Masonry, Soils, Brick, Landscape and similar terms.
Most of these stores will sell by the truckload or by the bag.

Take a few ziplocks and a sharpie pen.
Take a sample of whatever you are interested in and label the baggie.
Test it at home.

Do you know of any pure black sharp rocks? Im trying to find some for my aquascape but not luck.

[dbosman@msu.edu]

Originally Posted by Colorful

Do you know of any pure black sharp rocks? Im trying to find some for my aquascape but not luck.

Obsidian is usually black and plenty sharp. It can be flaked for scalpel blades.
The problem would be fish darting in and coming out filleted.

I like the look of odd chunks of obsidian. I'd not try to make layers of flaked pieces.

[Colorful]

Originally Posted by dbosman@msu.edu

Obsidian is usually black and plenty sharp. It can be flaked for scalpel blades.
The problem would be fish darting in and coming out filleted.

I like the look of odd chunks of obsidian. I'd not try to make layers of flaked pieces.

I like the look of obsidian but i have no clue where to buy it.

I like the black rocks in this thread: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=185716

What kind is it? I tried contacting the seller, but he hasn't pm'd me back yet.

[Diana]

Slate is dark grey to black, and looks black under water. I often see it in stores around here (Northern CA). Slate like material is also available in other colors, other rocks. If you like these, get a sample for testing, not all are really slate. The word slate is just being used for a very uniform cut rock.
Mexican Beach Pebbles are another black rock. These are rounded like river stones. Be sure to bring plenty of money, these are one of the most expensive landscape rock around here.
Both of these materials (True slate and Mexican Beach Pebbles) are aquarium safe, and do not alter the water chemistry.

[Diana]

In that thread you linked there are many stones. Some are quartz. Quartz is aquarium safe if it does not have metallic ores that will enter the water.
The black rocks (about halfway down) might be "slate" in a chunk form. But it might not. Those bands of white are interesting. The local mountain here has rocks from many geological ages, and one of them is a red rock with white bands like that.

Each rock yard will call the rocks something different, only sometimes relating it to the place where the rock was mined.

There are some dark rocks coming out of Montana, maybe ask the local rock yards if they have any.