on a scale of 1 to 10

How dangerous is collecting rocks from a local dam (farm dam, not harties) and using them in my aquarium?

 

Dunno, can you swim if you fall in the water. Are there snakes, dangerous types that hang arround the water edge?

 

:bigsmile::bigsmile:

 

Many people use a vinger/acid test. If the rock fizzes when you splash viniger onto it then it is likely to interact/interfere with your water chemistry...Personally not too clued up but have not heard of any toxic rock types locally. Having said that, I once saw rocks in local stream with a green colour tinge to them. Thought it maybe some sort of copper containing mineral.

 

Lol dude.

 

Collect away. Just take vinegar and pour on rocks if it bubbles/fizzes, do not take. There are some rocks that are not safe but the vinegar test will work.

Also note that it is sometimes illegal to collect rocks from the veld. I was stopped by the cops once and when I told them what I wanted to do with them, they helped

 

You can safely use those green rocks. They are most probably Amazonite, Verdite, Fuchsite or Budd stone. The copper containing Malachite is very difficult to collect on the surface in South Africa, it has to be mined.

 

Oh okay, thanks Wickets!

 

I found this guy on the side of the road. Vinegar test passed. Safe to use? anyone know what it is?

 

Looks like Quartz to me. I'd try and sterilize it before adding it to any tank. Try boiling water. Or soak it for a week or 2 and change the water regularly. You never know what was sprayed onto the rock at some point. Pesticides, or other contaminants could cause future problems.

 

I'd differentiate slightly and say it's quartzite :alberteinstein::blink1:. A little bit different from quartz and far more suitable.

 

Now i finally know what the rocks in my tank is called.(I also recently acquired black quartzite)

 

thx @Hawk. Haven't got it in the tank yet, still deciding...