Freshwater river rocks... in a reef tank?!

[JustAnotherNanoTank]

So the question from me finally has to be asked and asked for all to chime in their answer on.

Now I already know what you’re thinking...

NO!!!

Now, I don’t mean using them as an aqua scape.

I mean having one in the corner on your sandbed because it’s a really neat looking rock and it integrates another love of mine, the Colorado River.

So the question is, is it safe to have a “show rock” in your reef?

Can it be cleaned enough to go in?

Would the minerals the freshwater rock are made of be an issue?

Just been such a wondered subject for me.

The hope is for someone who is proven knowledgeable to chime in.

Some like maybe @Randy Holmes-Farley

Thanks in advance to anyone’s opinion or experience

 

[Doctorgori]

River rock is inert usually

 

[NeptuneRjo]

I personally don't see a problem with using it as decoration, but if you truly want to be sure that the rock you're using won't leach leave it in a bucket of saltwater for a few weeks and test.

 

[JustAnotherNanoTank]

River rock is inert usually

But there are so many different types of river rock. Some contain tons of iron which is why the mountains are red. Rusty rocks.

I personally don't see a problem with using it as decoration, but if you truly want to be sure that the rock you're using won't leach leave it in a bucket of saltwater for a few weeks and test.

Okay I can dig trying that for sure!

 

[ichthyogeek]

Well...what does the rock look like? Quartz and mica are fairly inert (but might have silicates). Geodes might look pretty for a while, but some of the crystal chemical formulae are iffy...

Whatever you do, do not put calcium carbonate based rocks in your tank ( just kidding).

 

[JustAnotherNanoTank]

Well...what does the rock look like? Quartz and mica are fairly inert (but might have silicates). Geodes might look pretty for a while, but some of the crystal chemical formulae are iffy...

Whatever you do, do not put calcium carbonate based rocks in your tank ( just kidding).

Well there are several that look cool! Pretty sure none are quartz or mica though and definitely not geodes! Lol

thanks for the reply!

 

[Arthurfarris]

Typically, any rocks or stones that came from riverbeds are ideal for freshwater aquariums. You can also use anything that came from a quarry. If you are thinking of using pebbles as a substrate for your aquarium. You should get enough pebbles to provide at least a two-inch deep layer.

 

[Dan_P]

So the question from me finally has to be asked and asked for all to chime in their answer on.

Now I already know what you’re thinking...

NO!!!

Now, I don’t mean using them as an aqua scape.

I mean having one in the corner on your sandbed because it’s a really neat looking rock and it integrates another love of mine, the Colorado River.

So the question is, is it safe to have a “show rock” in your reef?

Can it be cleaned enough to go in?

Would the minerals the freshwater rock are made of be an issue?

Just been such a wondered subject for me.

The hope is for someone who is proven knowledgeable to chime in.

Some like maybe @Randy Holmes-Farley

Thanks in advance to anyone’s opinion or experience

In general, leaching of toxic elements like copper would be a concern.

 

[JustAnotherNanoTank]

Here’s a blast from the past post I did.

Still have to wonder if I’d be okay with one in my reef!

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

 

[Nano_Man]

I’ve. Used Rocks but from our sea
Take a look and I have had no problems

 

[JustAnotherNanoTank]

Hahahaha that’s a funny one!

I saw this old thread and decided it had to come back from the dead. Lol

 

[JustAnotherNanoTank]

I’ve. Used Rocks but from our sea
Take a look and I have had no problems

That’s way cool. How long has it been up?

Were those rocks from the ocean or from a river?

 

[Nano_Man]

That’s way cool. How long has it been up?

Were those rocks from the ocean or from a river?

From our ocean
Been running a year

 

[JustAnotherNanoTank]

That’s awesome I will for sure be following along. Looks reallly unique!

 

[legionofdoon]

From our ocean
Been running a year

If there were any metals the sea water probably leeched them out already. Someone said quartz earlier but unless it's a clear quartz crystal I'd stay away, miners used to look for quartz seams when mining for metals. I have a large piece of iron ore that has a quartz vein running through it.