Hello! Please read on.

[The Native Aussie Tank]

Hai, I know this is for the UK peeps but it's the only decent planted tank forum I could find so here goes! So I'm in Australia, we have a lot of limestone here which is white and coffee rock which is red orange and sometimes brown. So I was just wondering how to put rocks in and if limestone or coffee rock would be the best? Or should I do both.

. Coffee rock. Edit: Turns out that big piece of "coffee rock" is granite.

Limestone.


From The Native Dude

 

[allan angus]

hi native dude welcome to the forum im not an expert (and im sure they will reply ) but i believe limestone is not an ideal material for aquarium use i would hold off setting up till you get some reply s lol

 

[Greenfinger2]

Hi Welcome to UKAPS I would not use Lime stone it alters the water chemistry as it starts to break down one rock you should not use in your tank

 

[The Native Aussie Tank]

Ok thanks What about the coffee rock?


From The Native Dude

 

[Greenfinger2]

Others will know more. But looks like it has a lot of iron in it from the colour // So should be ok

 

[The Native Aussie Tank]

The coffee rock is nice and solid.... If you touch the limestone you get like a white dust on yourself.


From The Native Dude

 

[Martin in Holland]

To test if the rocks you want to use are OK for your tank just put a few drops of hydrochloric acid on them, if it starts to bubble don't use them, if not they should be good for your tank.

 

[Vinkenoog1977]

Hi Native Dude, Martin's right, there's an easy way to test if they are suitable, but instead of hydrochloric acid, you can also use household vinegar; if it starts to fizz or bubble, that means there's quite a high content of lime in the stone, which, as said, will alter the water chemistry (raise the PH). So the limestone is definitely out, and should not be used.
The Coffee Rock should be fine, it's mostly a sandstone.
http://www.geonami.com/coffee-rock/

 

[The Native Aussie Tank]

Oh ok thanks.


From The Native Dude

 

[The Native Aussie Tank]

Ok, so the brown vinegar didn't fizz or bubble. So does anyone have a tutorial on how to place the rocks in looking natural?


From The Native Dude

 

[Martin in Holland]

There is no easy way to explain how to place rocks (hard scape) keep the rule of third in mind, look at as many tanks as you can (YouTube can be helpful) and place your rocks the way you feel is nice, look at it a few days, make a picture (often it gives a different perspective of the layout), change it if you think you need to and do it all again and again and again.....