Question with new tank decorations.

[goldenpuon]

Hi everyone. Today I went to Petsmart and picked up some tank decorations for my goldfish tanks.

Unlike the fake stone I normally get, this time I got what feels like real stone decorations.

One has plastic plants attached to it and both are shaped so I know they are not right out of river. (Aka shaped to have a certain look/mass produced)

To my questions, do I need to boil the rocks or do anything special to them like rocks one puts in fish tanks from a river? I am not 100& positive these are real or just very very realistic.

Also, I know one of them is marble (or at kleast that's waht the sign in Petsmart said) but am not sure about the other. Could these have any affect on KH, GH, or PH?

Thanks.

Renee

[Carl]

These mass produced rock decorations are generally safe with only a rinsing. The only risk is if they were stored somewhere where chemicals, fumes, etc. could have been absorbed, but I highly doubt this with a reputable seller such as Petsmart.

As to chemistry effect, again certain rock types are generally chosen or the rock s are "glazed" to make them inert.
Generally Metamorphic rocks such as marble have little effect on chemistry other than over longer periods of time that you or I will be around
Igneous rocks generally have less effect yet (this is why my tap water is so soft, with little buffers/minerals since our river water source starts in a volcano in the Cascade Mountains 80 miles from here)

Carl

[goldenpuon]

Thanks for the fast response. I'll add the rock decorations then. I bet the fish will like them.

Renee