Rocks/pebbles from beach

[squiddon]

Can I put rocks and pebbles from the beach in my tank? I know I have to clean them loads but is it possible to, because I see amazing shapes lying around the beach and I think they would look amazing in Ray's tank.

 

[MRIGUY]

I agree about finding cool stuff on the beach. However, anything on the beach has probably been exposed to saltwater and even if cleaned and soaked I would not use it in an amphibian tank. Therapeutic salt baths aside, salt is likely to irritate their skin long term.

 

[Abrahm]

I think that non-porous items like most rocks would be just fine if they were boiled before being used in the enclosure. The things you would want to stay away from would be the porous items like the various lava rocks such as Tufa and pumice that are full of holes and are likely to act like MRIguy said. I wouldn't use ocean drift wood for the same reason.

Sand, sea shells and other items from living sea creatures are also a bad choice as they will dissolve in the aquarium and disturb the water chemistry.

I would just make sure to boil the items first and then wash them liberally with clean water before use.

 

[niajetze]

Living in wales your best bet is slate it is fantastic of the beach as there are no sharp edges (good for axies to use for breeding also) I have used it for my tanks with no problems (just scrubbed it with boiling water) any thing else and you would have to check what kind of rock it is and that it is innert (wont react to/ effect the water)

 

[oceanblue]

Living in wales your best bet is slate it is fantastic of the beach as there are no sharp edges (good for axies to use for breeding also) I have used it for my tanks with no problems (just scrubbed it with boiling water) any thing else and you would have to check what kind of rock it is and that it is innert (wont react to/ effect the water)

I suspect from Llantrisant you visit South Wales beaches where slate is scarce. Most beach rocks are fine in aquaria after a scrub and soak in hot water. You can test for limestone by seeing if it fizzes when a drop or two of vinegar is put on it. Limestone makes the water harder, so most fishkeepers avoid it as fish like neon tetras like soft acid water, but for axolotls hard water is an asset so you can use limestone in moderation. Make sure all the pebbles are too big to swallow.

 

[squiddon]

There are a lot of limestone beaches on the south coast as well as triassic breccia and sutton stone. Limestone being the only hard rock. I think the limestone would react with the water over long periods because of the corrosive effects of the sea water. However that might just be due to the ph and chemical content of the sea. Where else can I get decent rocks (the ones in pet shops are silly money)?