abc123d30

My basement is being water proofed so there are guys with big scooper trucks basically digging a big hole all around my house. They've dug up a LOT of limestone around the house so I was thinking I could use some for my aquarium.
I've collected a few pieces but I'm not really sure how to sanitize it to make it safe for my aquarium.
Could anybody help with this?

Nutter

Limestone is only suitable for hardwater aquariums as it will raise your pH & KH quite significantly & fairly quickly. It is fantastic in african rift lake cichlid tanks but no good at all for softwater or low PH aquariums. I wouldn't put limestone in the tank in your profile but if it's for a high PH aquarium then it is ok.

If the rock is suitable for your purposes, then you need to scrub each piece with a scrubbing brush & then boil at least an hour per peice. It should be safe to use after that.

AquaSplash6201

I very much agree with Nutter, it will rise your Ph levels. If you did want to put it in, I would try bleaching it? I've never tried limestone but I have tried it on alot of other things and it seemed to work. It might be a different case for limestone tho. Sorry I couldn't of have been a better help.

abc123d30

Thanks for all the help. I knew limestone would raise the pH but I didn't know it was that significant of a change. Thank you for the heads up and I won't be using the limestone for my tank right now. I'll probably save it though in case I ever get a high pH aquarium. MTS!

Thanks again Nutter and AquaSplash

Nutter

I wouldn't be using bleach on limestone as it is quite a soft rock that will soak up small amounts of liquid. That would make it unsuitable for using bleach on.
I have used bleach to sterilize tanks & equipment before & I personally consider it to be bad news all around. For sterilizing rocks, gravel, wood & ceramic rings, just boil them well. To sterilize tanks use methylated spirits & a good rinse. It technically doesn't sterilize but for heaters, thermometers, nets etc, soak for 3 days in salt water. Use 1kg of salt per 30lts of water.

IMO just as good as bleaching & far safer for the fish.

Butterfly

If there's any chance there have been chemicals sprayed around the base of the house where these rocks have been dug up I personally wouldn't use them.

How much limestone you use in the tank, how often you do water changes, what size water changes you do would affect whether/how much the limestone will affect your pH.
If you are doing regular water changes and use just a couple of limestone rocks you won't notice a significant difference in ph.
I have Carib sea's sahara sand(cichlid Sand) and Texas Holey Rock in my Multi tank but I do 25 - 50% water changes on that tank every week. The ph is the same as it is in all the other tanks. The reason being the rock dissolves so slowly that when doing water changes that little bit is removed. This is how it works for me
If you decide the rocks would be safe to use a good scrubbing to remove dirt and a good boiling will make it safe for your tank without chemicals. If you boil them let them cool gradually. Cooling in cold water can cause them to explode.
Hope that helps.
Carol