Is it possible to put sea stones in an aquarium? Preparing rocks before placing them in the aquarium

Journalist: Natalya Dzyuba Date: 08/20/2011 Read: 26823

What soil should I use in my aquarium? Handy, collected on the banks of a river or sea, or purchased? For an aquarium, so to speak, an ordinary one that does not claim laurels or a Dutch aquarium? Of course, it is tempting to use the budget option, especially when the aquarium is quite large. Since I live near the Black Sea, the “subsoil” is Black Sea pebbles from the not-so-southern coast of Crimea.

Still, does sea pebbles increase water hardness or not? Is it possible to use it in an aquarium with plants or is it strictly forbidden? Does this soil need to be boiled? Since opinions diverge to the exact opposite, I decided to conduct an experiment and see what comes of it.
I want to say right away that in one of the aquariums there was sea soil - they sell it in our store at a very low price (I don’t remember what, I bought it a long time ago, I remember that it was very cheap), and I didn’t see any increase in hardness from it.
For the purity of the experiment, small pebbles, with a fraction of up to 5 mm, were “caught” from the bluest Black Sea in the world and washed without fanaticism with fresh water.

What are pebbles made of? - quartz, quartzite, silicon, granite and similar rocks, there are fragments of shells and pieces of marble.

So first the vinegar test. Scary? Me too.

There is a reaction, but it is not the entire soil that is affected, but individual pebbles/pieces. And it turns out that this soil, washed by the sea and running water, is not very clean - after mixing, the vinegar became cloudy, and bubbles continued to rise from individual “foci”.

For comparison - Hagen soil, very similar to pebbles.
There is also fonit in vinegar - quite a bit; in the photograph, no matter how hard I tried, the bubbles rising from individual pebbles are practically invisible. But, of course, stirring will not create any turbidity and the soil itself is very clean - just rinse it a couple of times under water.

Hagen soil and the same soil in vinegar.

Well, the pebbles have a reaction to vinegar - let's say, an average reaction, but how will the water parameters change? To understand this, we took an equal amount of tap and purified water with the following parameters:
Water pipes: ____________________________Purified water:
gH-10_______________________________________________gH-1
kH-8_____________________________________________kH-2
pH-8________________________________________pH-6
PO4-0.5 mg/l_________________________________PO4-0.1 mg/l

Each flask contains 250 ml. 5 dessert spoons of pebbles were poured into the water:

The flasks are closed so that the water does not evaporate and left for two days.

After two days, the flasks were opened, an equal amount of water was poured out of each and fresh water was added (now the soil will “sour” for a week).

Test results after two days:
Tap water: ______________________Purified water:
gH-10______________________________________________gH-2
kH-10_____________________________________________kH-5
pH-8_________________________________________pH-8

It turns out that the soil had almost no effect on fairly hard tap water, but the indicators of purified, soft water changed quite noticeably. Most likely, it is not the limestones that are to blame for the change in parameters (these are soft rocks and they are quickly destroyed by the sea, literally grinding into powder), but the sea salt absorbed into the pores of the stone, which cannot be washed out with a simple “rinse.” Whether this hypothesis is fair or not, I will check later by thoroughly boiling and soaking the pebbles in fresh water.

After a week of “soaking” the pebbles, the water indicators are as follows:
Tap water: ______________________Purified water:
gH-10______________________________________________gH-2-2.5
kH-10_____________________________________________kH-6
pH-8-8.5_____________________________________________pH-8-8.5
PO4-0.5 mg/l______________________________PO4-0.1 mg/l.

The indicators of tap water remained practically unchanged, the pH increased slightly, and the indicators of purified water shifted towards more alkaline and hard water. Phosphate levels have not changed.

After taking measurements, the pebbles were boiled for 1.5 hours with the addition of 2 tablespoons of vinegar per 3-liter pan and placed in flasks with tap and purified water. The “dosage” is a little larger - 250 grams of water, 5 tablespoons of soil.
Control water measurement:
Tap water: ______________________Purified water:
gH-10______________________________________________gH-1
kH-8__________________________________________kH-2
pH-7.5_______________________________________________pH-6.5

Since soil has no effect on phosphates, I no longer tested them. The next measurement was two days after backfilling.

Retreat. If the soil sizzles in vinegar, then nothing will help it, but in this case there is one problem. The pebbles (not limestones) that make up sea pebbles have pores and cracks (any rock, even the hardest, is still not a solid, dense substance without flaws). Salt can accumulate in pores and cracks - the stones seem to be salted, in this case boiling with vinegar in fresh water can help. Or maybe not - this is what I want to find out - how correct are my assumptions about “salting” the soil and whether boiling can help in this case.

After two days. The test results are, to put it mildly, nontrivial.
Tap water: ______________________Purified water:
gH-12! _____________________________________gH-5!
kH-11______________________________________________kH-6
pH-8_________________________________________pH-8.5
For some reason, the overall stiffness increased quite significantly.
Despite these not very encouraging indicators and for the purity of the experiment, the pebbles were left to soak for a week, until Friday. I'll see what happens next...
Test results after a week:
Tap water: ______________________Purified water:
gH-12_______________________________________________gH-5
kH-9_____________________________________________kH-9
pH-8________________________________________pH-8

The carbonate hardness has also increased... My thoughts about the more aggressive “behavior” of the pebbles after boiling are as follows: apparently, the addition of vinegar started the “decomposition” process of the limestone components. Therefore, when boiling, either do not add vinegar at all, or completely etch the soil with acetic acid.

So, the tests are over. And I can say the following: if you have an aquarium without any complaints, with simple plants and fish, and the tap has fairly hard water (THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!), then you can safely use sea pebbles - before placing them in the aquarium, rinse them well in fresh water water or boil, but without adding vinegar - in ordinary fresh water.
If the aquarium has osmosis water, or soft and acidic water flows from the tap, then sea pebbles are not your option. It will raise hardness and pH. Although, maybe for some this is just the effect that is needed.

Aquarium stones are increasingly being used to decorate a home pond. But it's not just decor. While for some residents they are not particularly necessary, for others they are a prerequisite for organizing their lives. Incorrectly selected or untreated stones cause illness and death of fish. The type, size, shape and method of arrangement, of course, are chosen by the owner to his liking. This article will only help you navigate and choose the most suitable option.

The main functions of aquarium stones are:

• aquarium decoration;
• imitation of natural habitat;
• serve as shelters;
• during spawning they are necessary for building a nest and laying eggs;
• regulate the level of water hardness.

Decorative stones for aquarium

Stones play a supporting role in the aquarium, provide a background for living creatures and emphasize the character of the landscape. Their use should be moderate and unobtrusive. Knowing the types of stones and their characteristics will help you choose the optimal set for each case.

The following types are distinguished:

• Artificial. They are available for sale in pet stores or online stores. The simplest option, but requiring investment. The cheapest are multi-colored glass pebbles. Beautiful specimens are quite expensive. It is better to choose ones that are close in appearance to natural ones, so that the aquarium does not look tasteless.
• Processed of natural origin. Can be purchased in specialized stores. Stones can be tinted or glued into compositions (grottoes, rocks, etc.).
• Natural natural. Stones taken directly from nature. You should be careful when choosing them, as not all are suitable for an aquarium. Careful preliminary preparation will be required to avoid introducing infection.

Natural stones in the aquarium

Gneiss

The stone is schistose, hard, often with gray, green, white or pink stripes. Suitable for any purpose. Does not affect water quality.

Granite

Universal material of volcanic origin. Neutral, does not release any substances into the water. It looks like multi-colored stones with specks of white, black and gray. There is an orange variety. It is good to use when building a rocky shore. The downside is that it is heavy and can break an aquarium if handled carelessly.

Limestone

It is of sedimentary origin and consists of calcium carbonate, but may also contain magnesium salts. It occurs both solid and friable, crumbly, often with inclusions of fossils. The color is gray, yellowish or white. Able to increase water hardness and acidity. In this regard, the porous variety must be soaked for 1-2 days before being placed in the aquarium. If this is not done, then the sharply increased alkali content in the water can kill fish and plants. The downside is the rapid growth of algae, and frequent rough cleaning quickly destroys the stone.

Limestone.

Sandstone

Sedimentary rock. It is formed by cementing sand with clay. There are many of its shapes and colors. Not all varieties can be used, as some are very soft and fragile. Sandstone can increase the hardness and acidity of water, so it is not suitable for all fish.

Sandstone.

Slate

Hard, gray, layered stones. Clean slates are neutral. Stones with additional inclusions in the form of veins or layers, as well as those that have split with sharp edges, cannot be used.

Tuff

Porous rock formed from volcanic ash. It has a spongy structure and a wide variety of colors. The advantages include light weight and good strength. One of the varieties is calcareous tuff. These are porous, light, fragile stones with a rough surface. Suitable for fish living in alkaline water with an abundance of pitfalls.

Porphyry

Volcanic origin. Contains crystals of gray quartz and transparent feldspar. Sometimes there is no quartz at all. In appearance it is similar to granite, but the color palette is wider: greenish, black, brown, purple, with sparkling sparkles of iron.

Marble

It is the result of recrystallization of limestone and dolomite under the influence of very high temperature and pressure. It has a pattern of characteristic veins, as well as many shades.

Pebbles

Rocks (sandstone, quartz, granite, limestone), which had been in reservoirs for a long time, were rolled in water and as a result acquired a rounded shape. Can be of different sizes and colors.

Quartzite

It consists of very small grains of quartz that coalesce and form a dense mass. Durable. Red or green colors. Its structure allows it to be divided into flat pieces, which is convenient when creating compositions. One of the varieties of quartzite is jasper, which has an original pattern.

Lava

A dark brown or reddish-black melt that, during a volcanic eruption, falls on the surface of the earth and solidifies. The advantages of the material are lightness, lack of impact on water, practicality and decorativeness. However, the high cost makes it practically inaccessible.

Lava stone.

Shell rock

It consists of the shells of mollusks or other aquatic inhabitants, which over time have been compressed and turned into porous formations. It weighs little and is easy to handle.

Shell rock.

Sea stones in an aquarium

Where can aquarists find stones for their home pond? The easiest option is a store. But not everyone just wants to come and buy; some see a certain romance in searching on their own. You can search not only near quarries and freshwater bodies. A very popular place for collecting pebbles is the seashore.

Sea stones in an aquarium look beautiful and exotic. Such bottom decoration is welcome, but only after careful processing of the stones. Sea dirt and salt should be removed with a stiff brush; you should walk through all the cracks. After this, the stones should be boiled or calcined.

How to choose stones for an aquarium?

Before entering, the stones must undergo an initial inspection, during which attention is paid to the following aspects:

1. Effect on water: stones should not dissolve in water and change its hardness or acidity.
2. For color (color and shades of inclusions and veins): it is known that light stones will look bad in an aquarium, but dark stones, on the contrary, look very advantageous.
3. On the texture or features of the external structure and surface (irregularities, veins, depressions). The most interesting stones are those with complex, intricate shapes.
4. Safety - the absence of sharp corners and edges that could injure the fish.

What stones are prohibited from being used?

1. Specimens found near quarries or mines for the extraction of metal or mineral ore.
2. Stones collected from areas contaminated with pesticides or suspected of radiation.
3. Minerals with an odor, since its presence indicates the presence of harmful volatile substances.
4. Containing metal veins or rusty stains.
5. With a bright color, which is most often caused by unwanted inclusions.
6. I love any ore, no matter how beautiful it looks. Iron and heavy metals are very dangerous for fish - the latter begin to die for no apparent reason.
7. Soft and crumbly stones, as they are most likely calcareous and will change the level of acidity and hardness (except calcareous tuff in alkaline aquariums).
8. Large pebbles, especially those with damage, chips, cracks.
9. Excessively heavy stones.

What stones can be used?

1. Collected near quarries for extracting stones for construction, making statues or tombstones.
2. Containing white or transparent crystals or veins (this is quartz).
3. Evenly colored, well shaped, with rounded edges.
4. It is better to place stones of the same breed in one aquarium. Different colors and textures in one body of water look ugly.

You need to check stones for suitability using vinegar: if you drop a drop and a reaction occurs, accompanied by hissing, then such a stone will change the water parameters, and it is not suitable for an aquarium. This point of view is now outdated. If you check stones in a store this way, you can get a false result: there are different stones lying next to each other, and particles and dust from one can fall on neighboring ones. And for some reservoirs, for example, with cichlids, such a change in water is necessary, so the stone in this case cannot be considered unsuitable.

Rules for preparing aquarium stones

You need to process both store-bought stones and those found in nature yourself. The process consists of the following steps:

• washing in running water without soap and detergents;
• removal of dirt, plaque, moss, lichens;
• cleaning cracks from dirt that may accumulate there and insects;
• boiling in an enamel bowl or calcining in the oven (about 20 minutes); as an alternative to the method, the stones can be dried in the open air for two weeks;
• cooling before placing in the aquarium.

Plaque on the stones

Sometimes you can see a green, whitish or black coating on aquarium rocks. However, it may be a different color. Its occurrence does not indicate infection of the aquarium, but rather a growth that quickly and rapidly grows not only on stones, but also on the walls of the aquarium and other objects in it. Plaque does not pose a great danger, however, measures to remove it must be taken, since its appearance indicates the beginning of the process of water blooming.

Causes of plaque formation:

• contaminated water due to rare changes, lack of filtration, untimely removal of waste from the inhabitants of the aquarium, as a result of which the balance is upset;
• too low illumination of the home pond;
• the use of lamps that are not intended for fish.

If you eliminate the cause, namely, maintain optimal conditions in the reservoir, change the type of lamps or power and spectrum, then the plaque will stop appearing. To remove its remains, you need to wash the stones, container and other items. You can use a scraper. After this, you need to replace the water with fresh water. If these measures do not help, then you will need to buy a special anti-plaque product at the pet store and use it for its intended purpose.

Live rocks for the aquarium

The term live rock is more familiar to experienced aquarium breeders than to those new to this business. The thing is that they are used mainly in marine domestic ponds, the design of which requires some experience and knowledge.

One of the varieties of natural stones are the so-called living stones. These are pieces of coral that are found or broken out of reefs. They are transported in a moistened state, due to which algae, animals and microorganisms living on their surface or in the pores and openings remain alive. Live Rocks are not only a special type of decoration, but also an important element of the life support system in marine aquariums.

Where do they come from?

Live rocks are obtained from the surface layer of the living body of coral reefs. It is worth noting that these actions, of course, harm nature, but with careful work, such scars quickly heal. Much more harm is caused by mining corals for construction or killing fish with dynamite.

Countries where this material is mined are seeking to protect coral reefs from barbaric destruction by increasing penalties. The result of this is a reduction in the supply of live stones to the aquarium market.

As an alternative to coral mining, artificial cultivation is proposed. How does this happen? They find dry dead reef debris on the shore or make stones from sand and special cement. Then they are placed on the seabed to become overgrown with algae and colonized by various organisms. However, these attempts are not very successful, and there are no analogues of living stones.

Advantages of living stones:

• environmentally friendly;
• the porous surface serves as an excellent filter;
• contain plankton and algae, due to which special conditions are gradually formed in the home pond;
• diversify the decor;
• source of nutrition and minerals for fish;
• create relief with potential shelters.

How do live rocks work in a saltwater aquarium?

Various organisms inhabiting the cavities and pores of living stone must take care of their existence, that is, they need to breathe, eat and get rid of metabolic products. To do this, they intensively pump water through the body of the stone: an effective biochemical living filter is obtained that processes harmful biogenic compounds into simple biologically neutral substances.

The inhabitants of such stones, when they enter a home pond, colonize the soil, decorations and other contents. This results in a stable aquarium ecosystem with a wide biological diversity of species.

In the depths of the pores of stones or under algae that have grown on them, the material that makes up the body of the stone can dissolve. At the same time, the water is enriched with calcium, magnesium and various trace elements beneficial for plants and fish. In addition, the stones maintain stable acidity and water hardness.

Various invertebrates and plants living on the LC supplement the diet of aquarium inhabitants. In addition, they themselves are capable of eating pathogens that cause diseases in marine fish. This is an excellent disease prevention.

What is the danger?

Together with stones, creatures such as mantis crab, carnivorous crab, fire worm, planaria, glass rose anemone and others can get into the aquarium. These undesirable neighbors for fish can be dangerous. Therefore, when purchasing stones, you need to carefully inspect them and it would be good to get advice from a seller knowledgeable in this matter.

How to choose?

It is better to choose one with a well-developed relief - many protrusions, depressions and various cavities. Openwork designs will not only look beautiful, but will also provide the fish with a large number of hiding places. In addition, sessile invertebrates can easily be attached to them.

However, there is one “BUT” here. If your aquarium is inhabited by large, active and fast fish (for example, a blacktip reef shark), then branched stones will play a bad joke - the fish can get stuck in them and be injured. Therefore, for such inhabitants it is better to take specimens that have a minimum of protrusions.

The second thing you need to pay attention to is strength, especially for living stones that will be laid as the basis of the entire decorative building.

Fresh stones may contain semi-decomposed or dead organic matter. It is not advisable to get it into the aquarium. Therefore, the stones must be pre-treated. How to do it:

• inspect the surface of the stone and check if there is a smell of rotting;
• clean the stone with a stiff household brush;
• immerse the stone in a plastic basin;
• using any submersible water pump with a capacity of at least 1000 l/h, blow out the surface and all cavities;
• install stones in the aquarium.

It is advisable to examine and identify all living creatures that were in the stones. If there are beneficial organisms there, they need to be carefully collected with a net and placed in the aquarium.

Conditions for good functioning

For the life and development of organisms inhabiting the LC, for them to perform high-quality filtration and maintain a normal biocycle, a number of conditions will need to be met:

1. Provide a current that will wash the stones well. In stagnant water, microorganisms experience oxygen starvation and die.
2. Choose the right number of stones. They should make up 15-20 percent of the total volume of stones (or 1 kg per 5-10 liters of water).
3. Do not add stones to the aquarium at once, but in batches. At the same time, monitor their adaptation and remove dead organisms in a timely manner.
4. Place the stones at the bottom so that water circulation is not obstructed, otherwise algae will begin to grow on them.

When using live rocks correctly, you will see the following results in your aquarium:

• the launch of the water biopurification system will be faster and easier;
• the immunity of the fish will increase, their color will improve;
• the number of diseases and their severity will decrease, mortality will decrease;
• the hydrochemical regime of the aquarium will become stable;
• The decorative design of the aquarium will improve.

So, if you are planning to get into marine aquarium keeping, and the opportunity (especially financial) allows you, then purchase live stones. They will not only become a worthy decoration for your pond, but will also help create and maintain the balance in it, so necessary for the life and health of all its inhabitants.

And finally, an interesting video on decorating an aquarium with decorative stones and aquatic vegetation:

Any aquarist wants his aquarium to look beautiful and interesting, but at the same time preserve its natural environment. Often you don’t need to invent something new, but just add something that is often found in nature. One of these “highlights” for decoration can be aquarium stones. They perfectly complement the interior, and due to their unusual shape they make the design unique in its own way. In nature, stones in water serve as a completely natural part of the habitat. Fish spawn in them, and sometimes they simply hide from predators.

Let's first figure out what types of aquarium stones are divided into. They can be divided into 2 main groups and have their own subspecies:

1. Artificial
2. Natural (natural) origin
   • Natural origin
   • Processed

Artificial ones can be purchased at a pet store. They are made from safe and non-toxic plastics. The choice ranges from cheap multi-colored glass pebbles to more expensive ones that look more like real ones.

Processed ones are also sold in pet stores, usually in the form of compositions in the form of caves, rocks, etc. One of the disadvantages is that to create such compositions you need to glue the stones (but ordinary glue can negatively affect the environment) and paint, and also often use fragile material. The better the processing, the higher the price.

Stones of natural origin are most often found among experienced aquarists. Before placing them in the aquarium, careful processing is necessary. You can take stones directly from nature. Of course, the big plus is that they are taken directly from the natural environment, thus feeling great in the aquarium and not causing harm to the inhabitants.

Impact on the aquatic environment

Stones in water can be roughly divided into neutral ones, those that increase hardness and those that increase alkalinity.

Making rocks for an aquarium with your own hands

Of course, you can’t assemble them from any materials, unless you glue them together and paint them, but this can be toxic for the inhabitants, but it’s quite possible to find stones for the aquarium with your own hands.

Suitable places to choose may be quarries where building stone is mined (for example, marble or granite), sea or river banks. Sea stones are in good demand. They can become part of your interior, and due to the fact that they were brought from the sea, they will add a special exoticism.

Sea stones

There are certain rules that are followed when choosing:

• Choose light stones so that if they fall they will not damage the aquarium. And also keep in mind that the base should be smaller than the top, because you can put them, and after some time in the water they may fall.
• Stones affect the aquatic environment, so find out in advance what effect they have on the water, i.e. making it more alkaline or softer. The water must meet the necessary conditions for the fish living in it.
• They should not crumble or crumble under mechanical stress.
• There should be no stains or odor on the surface, as they indicate the presence of metal or impurities that cannot be washed off.
• Check for any sharp corners or protrusions (i.e. flatter, blunter edges) so your fish can't get hurt on them.

You need to choose darker types, because they look most advantageous as decorations.

On the contrary, it is forbidden to use and place pebbles found near quarries and mines, collected in places contaminated with pesticides or radiation, and you should not take ore, because it is metal and is dangerous for fish.

One of the popular types of stones is sandstone. It belongs to sedimentary rocks, formed by mixing sand and clay. It is represented by a large variety of varieties, but only hard and durable sandstone can be used, because soft and fragile begins to affect the water, which can harm the inhabitants.

Sandstone

They also distinguish Kenyan stone (often also called Kenya). It also belongs to sedimentary rocks and is one of the most beautiful species. Its shape is uneven and its structure is porous. In nature, it is formed by mixing limestone, calcite, and sometimes shells. Due to this, it is suitable for water with a high alkaline composition and hardness.

Treatment

It is advisable to carry out the processing even if you purchased them in a store.

1. It is necessary to rinse it well, and then clean it with a stiff bristle brush. It is good to clean, not wash.
2. Dry.
3. Take acetic, sulfuric or hydrochloric acid and drop it onto the surface. If a reaction occurs - the appearance of gas bubbles or the appearance of orange or green spots, then they are unsuitable. This is due to the fact that when interacting with acid, iron and copper begin to manifest themselves. Unfortunately, pebbles cannot be washed away from containing such foreign elements.
4. If the acid test was successful, then rinse it again under running water.
5. Let's boil. You need to cook for 20-30 minutes. Alternatively, you can heat it well in the oven for 20 minutes.
6. After boiling, the prepared stones need to be given time to cool, after which they can be placed in the aquarium.

This is a fairly simple and effective way to prepare rocks for your aquarium so that no problems arise in the future. It is necessary to boil or heat the stone in the oven, since a brush will not be able to wash off all microorganisms.

Raid

One of the most common problems that arise is that the stones begin to turn green. You can get rid of this. Water and other surfaces often turn green or black. This indicates the appearance of algae. This is not a serious problem, but it is the first sign that the water in the aquarium is starting to bloom, so it is still advisable not to ignore it.

To remove green or black deposits, you just need to carefully monitor the aquarium. Don’t forget to do water changes, don’t add too much fish food, check that the filter is working properly and, most importantly, monitor the length of daylight hours. It should not be too large, because excess light is one of the main reasons for the appearance of algae. Special products purchased in the store can also help in getting rid of plaque. Before removing it, the plaque itself is cleaned with a scraper from all accessible places. But without caring for the aquarium, no matter how much you peel off, the algae will not just go away.

Conclusion

When decorating an aquarium, pebbles look unobtrusive, but at the same time give it a special look. They serve as decorations for him. Not all stones are suitable for an aquarium, however, due to their various shapes, of which there are many when purchasing or selecting stones, you can choose the one that is ideal for your design.

Choosing the right pebbles for an aquarium is not only a guarantee of external beauty. The health of the population of the indoor underwater world directly depends on what kind of soil will be poured onto the bottom. The quality, size, even color of the stones can radically change the personality of the aquarium. In fact, pebbles are the basis of the entire water world, and since the arrangement of the future water space begins with it, it is important not to make a mistake in choosing.

For fish lovers, there is now no shortage of decorative soils, which are sold in specialized stores in different sizes and colors; they can satisfy the most demanding taste. However, many people prefer to use natural soil - stones and coarse sand are collected from river and sea beaches, rocky slopes, even just from the nearest sandbox. However, in order to create not only a beautiful, but also a healthy environment in your aquarium, it is important to know a few rules.

Since the soil is divided into natural and artificial, it is better to make a choice in favor of natural for a number of reasons:

1. Artificial soil most often has too bright a color, so it is impossible to create natural lighting for such an environment in an aquarium; even shades of white are not able to balance the light. White generally loses its color over time under the influence of microorganisms, medications for inhabitants, and fish waste.
2. Improper organization of lighting can negatively affect the proliferation of beneficial bacteria that create favorable microflora. Black pebbles, popular with many, inhibit the growth of necessary microorganisms and make the water dead.
3. Unnatural soil is not capable of sufficient aeration and inevitably leads to cloudiness of the water in the aquarium.
4. Artificial color also creates an unnecessary background that distracts from contemplating the natural beauty of the fish.
5. The most common material for artificial colored soils is glass. Therefore, when planting plants in such pebbles, it will be necessary to provide them with powerful additional nutrition, because Such pebbles do not contain nutrients.
6. Natural stones include: sea pebbles, coarse quartz sand, crushed rocks and minerals such as granite, quartzite, jasper, serpentine, basalt, feldspar, small pebbles and others. According to experienced aquarists, they are the ones who are able to provide a favorable environment for the normal life of fish.
7. Natural stone is porous in structure and is capable of accumulating nutrients for grass and at the same time adsorbing some of the waste of fish.
8. To feed plants, you can place nutrient tablets or special substrates under aquarium stones. Considering that natural stone is porous and capable of being saturated with useful substances, the use of ordinary pebbles is completely justified here. This reduces the consumption of tablets, reduces the turbidity of the water and generally simplifies the care of the aquarium.

Aquarium pebble size

An important indicator of aquarium pebbles is their size. All aquarium stones whose size does not exceed 1 mm can be classified as sand. Its use is impractical due to its high density and impermeability. With poor aeration, it quickly cakes, becomes saturated with excrement, bacteria, and the processes of rotting and the formation of hydrogen sulfide begin in it. If the aquarium contains fish that like to play with gravel, then contact with such sand will not be beneficial for them. In addition, if fish pick up food from the ground, they can swallow sand particles and die.

The other extreme is aquarium stones larger than 5 mm. This is the opposite situation with sand. This soil is too coarse, permeable not only to water, but also to feed. Particles of food may fall under a layer of stones, and fish will not be able to reach it. This leads: firstly, to greater consumption of food, and secondly, to rotting of food residues at the bottom of the aquarium. In this situation, even a bottom filter cannot help. Therefore, such soil is also not suitable for a home pond.

For many, there is a temptation to use shell rock or marble chips as a bottom covering. However, this is also not the best option; these stones contain calcium carbonates. In the soft and acidic environment of the aquarium, they begin to dissolve, resulting in increased water hardness. The same effect is produced by natural shells placed in an aquarium for beauty.

Therefore, aquarists consider rounded gravel with round grains up to 5 mm in diameter, neutral color and natural origin to be the best soil for an aquarium. You can collect such bottom covering on the bank of the nearest river.

Using river soil is a good alternative to not buying something similar in the store. With some effort, you can choose almost every pebble at your discretion, taking into account size, color, and shape. Considering that this soil will probably serve the owners for many years, it is worth spending some time on this. Very small sea pebbles can also be a good bottom covering; you can collect them on the nearest beach.

Preparing the soil for use

If the soil is not purchased in a store, it must be specially treated before placing it in the aquarium.

1. Thorough rinsing under running water for a long time. The soil should be washed with warm water, stirring it gently to wash away particles of clay, earth, and sand. All large dirt should disappear so as not to get into the aquarium in the future.
2. Under no circumstances should you use any detergents or disinfectants for cleaning. The porous material will quickly absorb all the chemicals and then release them into the aquarium water.
3. For better disinfection, it is worth boiling the already washed soil for 1-2 hours in an aluminum container. After boiling it in the same water, it must be cooled and then laid out on a clean surface for final drying.
4. Some aquarists recommend calcining the pebbles in the oven. This is also an option for disinfecting the material. But under the influence of high temperatures, some stones may burst. Their sharp edges can then be dangerous for fish.

The bottom covering prepared in this way can be placed in the aquarium. Experts advise that the thickness of the soil, regardless of the volume of the aquarium, should not exceed 7 cm. It is this layer that is sufficiently permeable to water and air and is suitable for the rapid rooting of plants.

There is no doubt that, along with plants, stones give relief and decorative content to an aquarium. Properly selected, they can improve both the appearance and the inner world of aquarium inhabitants. Naturally created stones of various shapes, colors and sizes provide rich soil for all sorts of design options for home aquariums.

What are stones for in an aquarium and where to get them?

In addition to external beauty, for certain types of fish, aquarium stones are an indispensable element of the surrounding world and ecosystem, conducive to their survival and reproduction. They are also needed to regulate water quality. Having a minimum set of knowledge about aquarium stones will allow you to choose the right stones for your aquarium.

You can find rocks for aquariums anywhere. In general, this is not such a difficult task, but whether they are right for you or not is perhaps the most difficult question. In current conditions, you can buy them at a pet store, which is not particularly difficult, but this method is often ignored by experienced aquarists. Independently searching for fillers for an aquarium brings much more positive emotions and allows you to abandon established design stereotypes, introducing something of your own, unusual and unique into the design.

When searching for stones for aquariums on your own, it is advisable to pay attention to the following places:

• sea ​​and river banks;
• quarries for the extraction of building stone, such as marble, granite and their varieties;
• the vicinity of volcanoes.

Types of rocks for aquariums

For ease of understanding, aquarium stones are conventionally divided into two types - artificial and natural. Natural stones, in addition, are also divided into several types - natural and processed.

Let's look at each type separately, as well as their main pros and cons.

Artificial rocks for aquariums can mainly be used to provide a complete aesthetic look and are usually made from safe, non-toxic plastics. The external shape of such stones is very diverse, from ordinary glass of various shapes and colors to stones glowing at night and bizarre rock elements. The price of such stones varies depending on the complexity of production and similarity to natural stones. Despite the safety of the material, artificial stones usually come with instructions on how to handle and prepare them before installation.

Natural processed stones for aquariums are found mainly as ready-made compositions from natural stones in the form of underwater caves, rocks, or as a ready-made stone application. As a design element, in addition to stone processing, painting and gluing are often used. Despite their visual appeal, if they are not made from suitable materials, such stones in an aquarium can quickly fall apart and harm the fish. Processed stones, made with high quality, will cost accordingly.

Natural stones are the most practical and cheapest material for decorating aquariums. However, not all stones may be suitable for your fish, due to the fact that some of them can release certain substances into the water that change the level of hardness and alkalinity of the water.

They are neutral to water (they do not release any substances in the water) and can be used safely in any aquarium, such stones as:

• granite;
• gneiss;
• gray sandstone (not to be confused with porous white sandstone);
• quartz and quartzenites.

Stones made from:

• slate;
• some types of tuff;
• dolomite;
• shells and shellfish;
• limestone;
• marble.

Stones from:

• calcareous tuff;
• limestone;
• porous white sandstone (increases water hardness).

In addition to the above, pebbles are often found on sale. These are natural stones of a round shape, the edges of which are ground with water. They come from completely different materials and, as a result, can have different effects on water.

Lava is also neutral towards water. Compared to other stones, it is significantly lighter, and its bizarre shapes will undoubtedly add originality to the water landscape. However, it is not very popular mainly due to its high cost.

Sea stones look the most interesting, however, they can only be placed inside after special treatment.

Live stones are a separate type of stones for decorating aquariums. They are small parts of corals obtained as a result of collection at sea. In most cases, they are only suitable for marine fish, as they are part of the marine ecosystem.

Despite the rather high price, the presence of live stones in the aquarium is more than justified. While beautiful and safe for aquarium inhabitants, they contain plankton and produce special nutrients. Coral can also be used as a living natural filter for an aquarium, which, by constantly pumping water through itself, will purify it.

When choosing a living stone, it is better to give preference to stones with developed relief, a large number of pits and cavities. Such specimens will not only look advantageous, but will also provide the fish with additional shelter.

How to choose and check stones before putting them in an aquarium?

You need to choose stones depending on the type of fish living in the aquarium.

Before placing decorations in the aquarium, you need to know with complete confidence what kind of water your aquarium fish need. Soft water is mainly suitable for tropical fish. Alkaline water is mainly suitable for marine life. In any case, when purchasing fish, you will need to check with the seller in what water it was contained.

When selecting stones, you must adhere to the following generally accepted rules:

• stones should not have a significant effect on the water and significantly change the hardness and alkalinity of the water contrary to the preferences of the fish living in the aquarium;
• it should not crumble or crumble under slight mechanical stress;
• it should not have obvious stains (orange or green spots), which are clear signs of the presence of metals. The presence of an odor in the stone also indicates the presence of foreign impurities; It is more advisable to use stones of darker tones, since they will look more advantageous against a light background;
• the stones should not be very heavy, as if they fall they can damage the aquarium;
• For one aquarium it is preferable to have stones of the same material.

Regardless of whether the stone was purchased or found, it must undergo a process of verification and pre-treatment.

To check the suitability of a stone, it is recommended to first rinse it well and clean it with a stiff-bristled brush. After drying, you need to drop an acid on it: acetic, sulfuric or hydrochloric. If a reaction occurs in the form of the formation of gas bubbles, as well as the appearance of orange and green spots (signs of oxidation of iron and copper), we can conclude that it is unsuitable for the aquarium.

After the tests, the stone is washed again without using soap solutions under running water. A brush removes dirt and traces of living microorganisms, after which the stones are boiled for 20-30 minutes or heated strongly in the oven. They must be cooled before placing them in the aquarium.