75 Gallon Tank Where to buy gravel PC vs hardware store

[Cara]

For my other tanks I bought the gravel at PC but for my new tank I'm looking at alternatives. If I buy gravel from a hardware store I'm thinking if it says safe for ponds than I can use it in my tank.

Or am I missing something?

 

[BigManAquatics]

I think should be ok. May need a more thorough rinse, may be dustier.

 

[Cara]

I think should be ok. May need a more thorough rinse, may be dustier.

Thanks bunches

 

[jmaldo]

Agree "Rinse, rinse, rinse then when you think your done rinse again...

Have fun...
Good Luck!

 

[A201]

Quikrete All Purpose Gravel. Lowe's & Home Depot sell it in the lawn and garden dept. It's small grain rounded river gravel. Aquarium safe & inexpensive. Have it in my tanks.

 

[Cara]

Quikrete All Purpose Gravel. Lowe's & Home Depot sell it in the lawn and garden dept. It's small grain rounded river gravel. Aquarium safe & inexpensive. Have it in my tanks.

Thanks. Gonna head to Lowe's in a bit and check it out

 

[SparkyJones]

Yeah that quickcrete one that was suggested is good for smaller tanks. I went with a home depot River rock for my 4ft aquarium just because of the size of the tank and didn't want tiny rocks or sand.

You can probably find even cheaper options from a landscaping supply if you have one nearby than from either place. Also just good to go look and maybe pick up some accent rocks for decoration cheaper than what you'd find at a LFS.

There's also pool filter sand you'll find at Lowes or home depot too it's a viable substrate option also.

Gotta wash/rinse any of it though, just to keep fine particulates out of the aquarium.

 

[Cara]

Also just good to go look and maybe pick up some accent rocks for decoration

We have lots of landscaping places in my area and was thinking of checking them out too. I'm used to getting all my stuff from fish stores. Soak, scrub, clean, ready for tank. What would I need to do differently if i just get random rocks from a rockery?

 

[A201]

Not random rocks. Take your time and hunt for trophy rocks. The majority of rocks available are aquarium safe. You probably need to avoid limestone unless your fish require an elevated PH.
Rock yards usually have brown Pea gravel, which makes a good substrate. Rocks sold at the rock yards and landscape companies are "very" inexpensive.

 

[Cara]

Not random rocks. Take your time and hunt for trophy rocks.

Well yeah. Not random. They need to call to me

 

[SparkyJones]

We have lots of landscaping places in my area and was thinking of checking them out too. I'm used to getting all my stuff from fish stores. Soak, scrub, clean, ready for tank. What would I need to do differently if i just get random rocks from a rockery?

Nothing different than you'd be used to for other substrates really. Like was said no limestone unless you want to keep higher pH water, otherwise most rocks used for landscaping are safe and come out of rivers anyways. You might find granite or shale or slate also. All good. Try to avoid sharp edge stones, but you can soften the edges by rubbing them on sidewalk to sand them down some also so it's not completely off the table with a little effort If it's sharper than you'd like but still calls to you.