cg49me

I just got a 75gal to replace my 10 and 29. It'll be planted, just like the other two, but I'm getting some of "AquariumPlants.com's Own Freshwater Planted Aquarium Substrate" instead of just gravel. Hopefully this will prevent the need for root tabs... Anyway, I digress.

I stopped off at one of the rock cuts along a local highway to pick up some stone. I grabbed pieces of what I'm pretty sure is limestone (this area is known as "the limestone capital of the world") and slate. Did the vinegar test on both of them - what I think is limestone didn't "fizz", but there was some bubble action, and what I think is slate didn't do anything.

I've read about adding limestone, and how most people say don't do it since it ups the pH. Thing is, the water around here is already pretty super hard - generally around 8.4 pH. I've had no problems with my current tanks, successfully housing plecos, a gourami, barbs, tetras, swordtails, and even shrimp, and I don't do anything to adjust the pH other than regualr small water changes (20% every 2 weeks).

So, do you think I'm okay to add the limestone?

Butterfly

The reason limestone raises the pH is because it dissolves, and it doesn't do this over night. With regular water changes and gravel vacs you probably won't notice a change in pH because you are removing most of what dissolves in water changes. I have Texas holey rock in a tank and the ph is the same as the other tanks because of this.
Most of us recommend 25% water change each week.
Carol

Lucy

I've always been afraid use limestone. There's plenty around here too.
Thanks Carol.

Butterfly

Lucy I have Texas Holey Rock and Cichlid Sand in the Shellie tank along with shells and the pH stays the same as all the other tanks. Dino just laughs and tells me I do too many/too large water changes for it to go up.
I understand about picking up rocks along highways, just make sure they don't have oil or road waste on them. My husband got caught picking up rocks along hwy 111 in Tn by a trooper and he said "I hope your not picking up rocks. those belong to the state."
Carol

Lucy

Yep, that sounds like Tn.
I collected quite a bit of rock from construction sites etc when we first had the house built.
I lined my flower beds with it. When I tired of that look I piled them up behind a bush. lol
Now I'm alwayd afraid I'll step on that pile and find a rattler.
Or worse, he'll find me.

cg49me

No kidding? I was talking to a buddy of mine about buying rocks from eBay, and he told me to go to one of the highway cuts. He said that the state depts (IN) actually appreciates it, since it's that much less they've got to clear away when the falls pile up.

I know I've seen other people collecting rock from the cuts before. I didn't really think anything about it.

Butterfly

Yeah we had gotten some good rocks that way before too. Don't know if he was having a bad day or a good joke on us but didn't want to find out
Carol

gmen4life

i get mine from the river