Collecting "wild" river rocks

[jeremyh81]

During my trip to Lynchburg to visit family, I took the Jeep out on the dry lake/river bed near one of the inlets to Tim's Ford and picked up some rock off the damp bed. They were soaked in a 1% bleach solution overnight, but I'm not exactly sure what kind of rock it is.

Some specimines are showing layers of black and red rock and chip easily by another rock. I looked at a geological map of TN and that area is showing to be laden with limestone, shale, and other types of rock.

Another test I'll be doing soon is to place them in a bucket of dechlor, test the pH and hardness before adding the rock, and then testing again in 24-hour intervals.

Are there any other tests I can do to ensure these will be safe for an aquarium?

[angel]

I think river rock, properly cleaned, is safe for fish. It's what our native fish are used to and they're getting the same Ph and hardness that come from the tap so it sounds like a good find.

[davidtcb1]

I've gotten rocks out of a creek/river bed before and used them with no problem. Boil them if you can, but the hot water/bleach solution will likely do the same trick.

[jeremyh81]

Most are the same and one of the rocks I tested in a 5 gallon bucket of dechlor didn't change the pH or hardness in 24 hours, so I'm going to give them another good scrub and boil to make sure all of the chlorine is out, then drop a couple in the 26.

The rest are for when I setup the 55.

[davidtcb1]

Yeah, you should be fine.

[jon carman]

You should be fine, but it is always a dice roll. I wouldn't worry about it and try it out.