Rocks From Outdoors

[blakeoe]

I recently found some very interesting rocks from a rock jetty around my campus i would love to use in my aquarium. I have read a post before on how to clean drift wood to use in an aquarium:

It said:
Soak for several weeks doing waterchanges to remove the tanin then boil it, change water then boil again, put it back in the bucket of water for a day but add bleach. Change water and dose heavily with dechlorinator. Soak for a few days then boil again with some salt. After this bake it.

Do i have to do all of this for rocks? Or could i get away with just boiling them since they do not have the tannin and they will sink nomatter what.

[TheOldSalt]

Sure, that would be fine. Before you start, though, you have to know what kind of rock it is and whether or not it's safe in an aquarium. Also, some rocks can split when boiled, so again it's important to know what they are.

[ijedic]

One test you can do to see if they will alter your pH is the vinegar test. Pour a bit of vinegar on the rock, if it fizzes, then it would be in your best bet not to use it, as it will increase the alkalinity of your tank. I would also ask some of the groundskeepers around campus if they spray with chemicals in that area, if so, I wouldn't risk it. You can often find nice rock that won't alter your tank in rivers and streams.

[blakeoe]

Well i think they should be ok as far as chemicals go b/c the jetty is in a Saltwater Bay and most were pulled from underwater. Ill try the vinegar test. Is it ok to put them in my freshwater tank even though i pulled them from salt water if they pass the vinegar test? Im also going to try leaving them soaking in a bucket for a few days and then testing the water to see if they raise the ph of my tap water.
P.S. This is not coral or anything. i have seen these same rocks in some fresh water ponds but they have probablly been submerged in saltwater for a while.