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Author Topic: Pebbles for tanks!  (Read 444 times)
Skwishee
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Pebbles for tanks!
« on: November 18, 2011, 07:56:20 AM »
Hey guys, just a quick question, is it okay to use pebbles found at a beach for a tank?

I imagine it would need to be cleaned with something like bleach or another strong product, so any advice on that?

Only I'd quite like to have some larger pebbles in the 125 litre tank, along with some gravel, on the subject of which I intend to get some smoother gravel, the stuff I have now is rather mixed, most of it doesn't fit in Luckys mouth, but she did have a piece literally in her mouth the other day, just casually looking at me with this piece of gravel in her mouth XD I freaked out and turned around to ask my partner about tweezers and when I turned back it had gone *Phew* I do not want this gravel when she gets bigger!
I know my dads tank does already have gravel, but I will have to check out what type as I can't remember!

Asides from that ramble, I saw some pebbles at Pets at Home for £7.99 and I think.... I could get much nicer and more pieces for free at the beach!
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Nossie
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Re: Pebbles for tanks!
« Reply #1 on: November 18, 2011, 09:01:14 AM »
Depends who you're asking, some are seriously strict with this and would tell you not to even ask the question, but others are more like "eh. whatever."

I'm a little bit in between, I would rather have you avoid that, since you never know what might be on the rocks, but if you'd clean them well and soak them in bleach I don't see anything against it, just be sure it's clean before you put it in the tank Smiley
I'd rather have you put pebbles from the beach to your tank than buying all those weird, painted ornaments that you never know what kind of plastic they're made of! D:

Don't they have any cheaper packets of pebbles around there? I managed to find some in the gardening section at the grocery store. I just rinsed them and brushed them really well and I haven't had any problems Smiley Specific "pet shop pebbles" are always far more expensive even if they're not different from the gardening pebbles Tongue
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Skwishee
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Re: Pebbles for tanks!
« Reply #2 on: November 19, 2011, 05:43:25 AM »
Oh gardening pebbles... I didn't think of that one!
I think most of our gardening centres here are out of the city (gardening sections of shops are only in the bigger chain stores that are again out of the way) but maybe when my parents are visiting we can drive to one or alternatively I'll find one close to a train station so I can go sometime Smiley I'm pretty sure there's one or two that have fish related things too.

So then just rinse them under a tap and give a good scrub? I suppose the rocks have already been treated for diseases and things?
« Last Edit: November 19, 2011, 05:49:42 AM by Skwishee » Logged
Nossie
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Re: Pebbles for tanks!
« Reply #3 on: November 19, 2011, 05:55:44 AM »
The ones I got had already been cleaned but I washed them up pretty well in hot water just in case Smiley
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Skwishee
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Re: Pebbles for tanks!
« Reply #4 on: November 26, 2011, 01:50:57 PM »
Here's an interesting find, with regards to pebbles - (Link is not visible to guests. Please register to view.)

I saw some whilst out today, wonder if it would be okay to go with goldfish? It looked very pretty....
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scrivens345
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Re: Pebbles for tanks!
« Reply #5 on: November 26, 2011, 02:10:21 PM »
I got two big stones from my local beach,  ....Shhhhhhh...don't tell on me please

[image]
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Skwishee
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Re: Pebbles for tanks!
« Reply #6 on: November 26, 2011, 05:57:23 PM »
Hahaha Scrivens that made me laugh! Don't worry, I won't tell  Wink

If you don't mind me asking how did you treat the rocks?
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scrivens345
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Re: Pebbles for tanks!
« Reply #7 on: November 26, 2011, 06:04:30 PM »
Just gave them a good wash & soak in fresh water
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Nossie
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Re: Pebbles for tanks!
« Reply #8 on: November 27, 2011, 03:58:20 PM »
Love your fish Wink And the stones are so nice!! Smiley I'd definitely grab a few from the beach here, but they're all very sharp... >>
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Dragonii
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Re: Pebbles for tanks!
« Reply #9 on: November 27, 2011, 04:49:03 PM »
I decorated an entire tank one time with large round stones that we swiped from a friend’s apartment complex. lol

I wanted to use big round stones and we don't have those here in Louisiana.
My 150 has a bunch of large gray stones in it that I collected from along the river. Our area doesn’t have rocks of any sort; the ones along the river were brought down from rock quarries up north. I had to do some testing on them before using them and found that they are alkaline in nature, which is good as I need the cichlids water buffered.
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Skwishee
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Re: Pebbles for tanks!
« Reply #10 on: November 27, 2011, 06:41:12 PM »
How would you test a rock for wether is acidic or alkaline Dragonii?

Also with gravel and such, what size do you guys find is best? I'm thinking of going for something thats 1/4 an inch, but I feel when the fish get bigger they could possibly fit that in their mouths XD But as long it's pea sized they'll spit it back out right?

When my parents are visiting, I'll see if we can go to a beach or gardening centre ^_^
Also has anyone heard of Wet Rock Stones?
I saw some in the aquarium section of a shop the other day and on the back it said they were 'Blue Sodalite King' rocks, semi precious stones to add to the tank, I was thinking these could look nice around plants with the pebbles, but I didn't know if anyone here has seen or had exprience with such an item? As long as there are no sharp edges and any dust is washed off, I imagine it would be okay?
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Nossie
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Re: Pebbles for tanks!
« Reply #11 on: November 28, 2011, 12:06:53 PM »
Gravel that is roughly pea sized should be the best option, some smaller and some bigger pieces there won't be a problem as long as they're mostly round they'll fly right back out when the goldies move them about Grin

You may want to check the stones out on wikipedia or something to know if they're releasing any chemicals into the water or changing the water quality, just to be on the safe side Smiley
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Skwishee
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Re: Pebbles for tanks!
« Reply #12 on: November 29, 2011, 06:50:12 AM »
I found that Blue Sodalite, comes from granite, but other than that I can't seem to find much else!

Apart from this "Some of the most attractive and popular semi precious rocks available as single pieces (maxi) or smaller stones (king aprox 30mm). All are inert and so are safe for all aquariums, and look especially attractive when wet when each rock's natural colour really comes up."

I could always buy some, get a bucket of water, check the PH before putting it in and then check the PH once it's been sat in there for a few days?

I'm going to check what type of gravel my dad already has in the tank as I am not using the gravel I have in Lucky's tank, none of it is round and the other day she had a rectangular piece in her mouth! She spat it back out fine, but I don't want her with this gravel when she's bigger!
Hopefully my dads gravel will be okay, haha I remember his ancistrus catfish would regularly re arrange the gravel so there would be always be a bald patch in the middle of the aquarium XD

I think it was pretty smooth, so it may be okay to just boil the gravel and put it back in  Smiley
« Last Edit: November 29, 2011, 06:54:11 AM by Skwishee » Logged
Nossie
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Re: Pebbles for tanks!
« Reply #13 on: November 29, 2011, 10:01:35 AM »
Sounds like it'll be fine to add them to the tank! Smiley I bet it'll look just lovely Cheesy

Sure, most common kind of gravel is actually rather rounded anyway, I bet that's what your dad has Smiley
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Skwishee
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Re: Pebbles for tanks!
« Reply #14 on: November 29, 2011, 02:53:16 PM »
Hooray pretty stones in the tank! I think I might start slowly getting things over the next month too! It'll save buying everything in one go XD Soo excited!
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Onael
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Re: Pebbles for tanks!
« Reply #15 on: November 30, 2011, 02:06:17 AM »
I got large sack of pea pebbles at the local hardware store for $3. All I had to do was rinse the dirt off of it.
[image]
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Skwishee
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Re: Pebbles for tanks!
« Reply #16 on: November 30, 2011, 04:01:17 AM »
Ohh good idea! I'll be sure to check that out when I next to go to a gardening centre  Grin
Maybe gardening centres are the place to buy things for aquariums!
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Nossie
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Re: Pebbles for tanks!
« Reply #17 on: November 30, 2011, 04:27:32 AM »
They more or less are Smiley At least the decorations. But just in case, avoid strangely painted glass pebbles or the like, you never know what they used to paint them D:
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Skwishee
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Re: Pebbles for tanks!
« Reply #18 on: November 30, 2011, 01:01:50 PM »
I'll make a note to avoid them Grin

I want the tank here now, so I can buy things and decorate already! Cheesy
Haha I will be like a child with a dolls house when that tank arrives! 
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Nossie
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Re: Pebbles for tanks!
« Reply #19 on: November 30, 2011, 04:12:00 PM »
The most fun part is to decorate the tank Wink I know the feeling! Grin
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