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Stop Wasting Money on Aquarium Rocks! Cheapest Way to Buy Rocks for Your Fish Tank
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- Опубліковано 2 кві 2020
- Hello Everyone,
In this video we look at a great way to save money when buying rocks for your aquarium.
Interested in other ways to save money in the aquarium hobby? Check out these videos! • How to Save Money in t...
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Thanks for watching!
Interested in other ways to save money in the aquarium hobby? Check out these videos! ua-cam.com/play/PL79yWtqvNd3VElXizfsGaZ1K_qVgFLx13.html
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For the latest in the fish room check us out on Instagram primetime_aquatics
So, I just went through your “How to Save Money in the Aquarium Hobby” playlist and it’s crazy how much in the last 3 years your production value improved. Also, the progression of your beard. Keep it up Jason!
Haha - thanks! Everything has grown. :-)
@@PrimeTimeAquaticsI'm 3 years in the future - and it's gotten even better 😂
I think the main cost of doing any sort of aquascaping at least in the UK is the price of Bog Wood , maybe a video explaining with types of wood can and cant be used in a tank would be some good content
I've had good luck with Mopani wood. It's often sold for use in reptile habitats, but also works well in aquariums. The best part is that it usually sinks like a rock, so you don't have to weigh it down.
Mopani works well. It does tint your water yellow between water changes for a while but given enough time it will stop. Soaking for a few weeks helps.
I use fallen eucalypt branches from my backyard. I cut them to the lengths I need then leave for months to completely dry out.Then I soak them for months. Never had a problem using it.
Glad I found this! Went to a landscaping place that sells rock by the ton and got 10 lbs of large river rocks for $3!!
It's the best way, all of your suggestions! Great job again Jason!!
Thank you!
You just cover it all! Love all your videos. Than you! So glad I have 4 tanks to keep me busy during this time!
Thank you!
I like to use native rock. There are a lot of fossils in creeks that are great for an aquarium. They are limestone so you definitely wouldn't want to use them in soft water. I keep mostly native fish so this is great for them.
Everyone needs to know this. There is typically more selection as well and of course always looks natural and real. Good video to call this out it’s a great point.
Thank you!
I’m looking forward to the follow up on how to select rocks! :)
Thank you for your honesty :) I think people mistake flag stone with limestone though.
Will def keep this in mind the next tank I build! I only have nano tank so not too much room for rocks. I have one specialty rock from the pet store for my old west tank (could not tell you what it is but it looks like a chunk of canyon walls) and I have amethyst and quartz for my mystical snail jar. The crystal shop guys say they won't melt and so far they haven't.
Nice video! It was very helpful! Keep it up!👍
Always helping us to save money thanks primetime!
Thanks for watching!
Please do video on how to find cheap driftwood
Very interested in the follow up video about the sparkly rocks etc.
Will keep a close eye out.
As always amazing helpful and education, plus saving us some money.
Thank you an stay safe 💖💖💖
Thanks for watching!
Thank you!!!
You can join your local mineral society or rock club. I used to be a member of Georgia Mineral Society. They have two to three field trips per month on average. I have collected some nice looking rocks from the field trips. The field trips are fun. You will also learn a lots about the rocks from the local rock hounds.
That's a really cool idea!
I am from india ... Rock Club !!! 🤔😂
Any idea if "Crimson Stones" are safe for aquariums?
THANK YOU!
That's where I get my rock. I purchased about 80 pounds or so for a little over $20 that's in the Los Angeles area. Another great video Jason
Now that's a great deal!
Hardware stores have been my choice for rocks and terra cotta pots for caves. Doesn’t look the best but it’s cheap
Oh wow. I got mine from the lake when I rented a cottage. I got enough for “several “ tanks. They’re nice and smooth and various shapes. I had to test them for safety with vinegar. I can’t remember if they’re ok if the vinegar bubbles, or not ok, it’s been so long, but free is nice.
Thanks for the info man the fish store I go to in my city is a rip off when it comes to rocks
Awesome!
Excellent advice, will see what I can pick up the next time I’m out in the hills 🤓
Cool !
Loved this show ,,I didn't know where to get rock but for a pet store ,,thanks ,,keep up the good work ,,be watching for when you go out to get rock
Thank you for watching!
Perfect timing! Looking for rocks for my Brichardi tank.
They will like both the rocks I suggested! :-)
Thanks
Good video.you`d have to have rocks in your head to spend 3-5 hundred bucks on rocks!!
I get great rocks fee on my 5 acres of land and in local creeks.
If I need slate I go to Walmart Garden Center or Home Depot.
Ridiculous amount to spend on rocks on an already fairly expensive hobby depending on what level that a person is on.
Stay safe!!
Great tips this morning.. you know I'm getting ready to buildi this new tank👍.. next project inspired by Mrs. Primetime 😁 I want my very own Ten tanks for 10 betas🤣🤣 my husband's laying here listening to my comments giving me the stink eye 🤣🤣🤣♥️♥️ p.s. I joined your awesome channel this morning!!! Much love you guys!!!🌱🐟🌿
Thanks for being part of the team! So cool that you are setting up the tanks!
Good info.
Thanks :-)
Great video👍 I was thinking to put some river rocks on my 40 galling tank but I’m a bud afraid to put to much weigh and crack the tank or something worse🥴 how much weight in rocks can I put on a 40 gallons tank? Thank you
thanks
Funny how crazy people can get about using stuff that isn't marked up by aquarium supply houses. Thanks for the confirmation that my rocks are just fine.
I spent 100 bucks on 40lbs of smokey mountain sieryu stone for my cichlid tank. They don't sell that around here at the local stone sale company's and we have many I checked. Sometimes you gotta pay for what you want
Thank you ! I am redoing an aquarium I had up for years and I have been wondering why we couldn`t get rocks from either of these ways .
Glad it worked out! :-)
Awesome
This great one. Everybody should know you can get rocks at landscape places. Does save alot of money.
I think I would be broke without them. Haha
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Me to
I’m curious did you ever do a video on how to pick out the aquarium rocks and how to wash them etc. I’ve been looking and I can’t seem to find what I’m looking for. TIA
Also thanks for all the good info. I’m still Relatively new to the aquarium world and absolutely love all the videos.
We usually just rinse them off, but you can also soak them in 10% bleach solution or hydrogen peroxide.
Guess I am lucky just north of me is Granville NY slate capital of the world.Go up to visit relatives and pick through the mine’s ruble pile,red,blue green and grey best thing is they are happy to get rid of it. Have a good day Professor!
That is really awesome!
Half the "aquatic scaping" elements aren't available in Australia. I just used some river stones but unfortunately they have reacted. Came across a cheap trick to test with vinegar before adding to tank. Lesson learned the hard way 🤦🏻♀️
well thats an odd coincidence, i just got back from collecting rocks, my daily allowed exersize while on lockdown in the UK, i forgot how heavy 2 sacks of rocks could be, but they were free so worth it.
Too funny. I found out how heavy it is to carry a 5 gallon bucket around with rocks. :-)
I am lucky 3 miles to the south I have one of the Great Lakes and if I go north east I have a huge river the dumps into the lake more rocks than I could ever use in my life
I second this! All of the rocks I use in my tanks were either found in my backyard or the landscaping store. I try to avoid taking rocks from nature, unless it’s a really cool rock from a place where collecting is permitted lol
Cool!
i diy most things that go into my aquarium. I source mosses from local creeks and use pavers sand and pavers pebbles as my primary substrate. i get rocks from the park, the steams, and from construction sites in my neighborhood. lots of houses are built from limestone here, I don't use those as they can slowly alter the ph of the water.
Very cool!
Love going to the landscaping place with a couple buckets and a water spray bottle so you can find some great items and walking away spending $20 instead of $100 plus. Often that plain looking rock has great colors when wet.
Good idea!
I use pea gravel and river rock I also have a large rock collection inc petrified wood I use in my tanks. The cost is very very low.
I bout a 25 kilo bag of river rocks at a BayWa ( German Hardware store ) for 10€. So many more rocks than I need, it’s wonderful
I really appreciate and enjoy watching your videos. It's very knowledgeable and educational. I have a question. I have five Buenos Aires tetras, a Bumblebee catfish and two Redeye tetras. My tank is a forty gallon tall. I wanted to know would it be ok(safe) for me to put three more Redeye tetras in the tank? The parameters are great(ammonia,nitrate and pH). I have a hang on the back filter with two sponges on the intake nozzle. The filter brand is an Aneanon. I hope I spelled it right. That's my situation
I think it would be fine to add a few more. You may want to think about upping the Buenos Aires tetra group. I have kept them a few times and they seem to pick each other off over time until there is only one left unless they are in larger groups. You'll notice it when one of the fish is not schooling with the others.
Great ideas, I look forward more on hardscape.
We have dolomite locally in Massachusetts. Would that be a good Cichlid accent rock in water at a pH near 8? Our local dolomite is the white to gray with smooth edges.
Thanks,
Jim
I think it could work. I would add small amounts and see if it does anything to your water. I guess it could increase GH, but I doubt it will have an impact on your pH since it is at an 8 already.
I get my rocks from landscaping and hobby lobby. The local Hobby lobby here even sells cholla wood for 1/3 the prices the LFS here.
Oh nice info. Thanks!
I live near a slate mine in the UK. there is so much crumbled slate around the area I can get my rocks for free. Though I'd like to buy some seiryu for a nano tank aquascape soon. Also I got alot of dragonstone for $4 from a garden centre because it was labelled fossil wood stone.
Very cool!
Thanks for sharing! I'm looking to start up my 40 gallon fish tank after 9 years of it sitting idle (kids being born lol). How do you address all of the extra weight being added to the tank? Is there any structural concern for the tank with adding 50-100 pounds (for example) of rocks?
Some people lay egg crate down to help disperse the weight.
I went to the closest railroad tracks and grabbed a bucket of rock ballast from the clean side of the tracks.
I just went to a trail near me that has a nice stream and grabbed about 20lbs of stone. You can't even tell I was there!
I have had tons of rock but most are off a mountain just outside. I like my Rock kit from Universal Rocks also.
Cool!
Hi Jason. You mentioned to stay away from rocks that have those little sparkling bits. Can you tell me why? I went to get some rocks lately in our forest and i cleaned them good and boiled them for 10 minutes. It's is now my new running gag: rock soup!
Not all, but some rocks that sparkle have metal in them that can negatively impact water parameters. Be careful with boiling because some rocks can explode.
Good video Jason. I have added few marine rocks and few lava rocks to my Red spotted Sevrum tank. Pls let me know if adding these changes the parameters of the water and wat else can I add for the betterment of my fish?
Some marine rocks will increase water hardness and pH, while lava rock can decrease pH.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Thanks J
I think it's worth discussing why you want or need a rock. Is it to do work like raise pH or provide structural support? Or is it just decoration? I've found marble chips are excellent in African tanks and even help regulate tanks where the pH tends to drop more than desired.
Aesthetics 100% for me.
Have you checked the hardness or TDS level of your tap vs after you added in marble chips?
@@tentyme1 I checked pH, GH, and KH. The pH went from below 7 to around 7, barely changed anything else in a 55 gallon. Maybe 1 extra degree KH. But I did not add many chips. I'm confident it will keep a tank around 7.0 to 7.2. They look nicer the longer you leave them in the tank.
My TDS out of the tap is almost 1000 smh, no way I could use any of the softer chalky rock 😕
i've seen people use vinegar and watch for bubbles to discover if there are carbonates or not among the river rock which would mess with the kh/ph, but vinegar is diluted to 5% acidity.. so the reaction might be weak.i have found after researching around that the nitrate#1 from the api master kit is hydrochloric acid. a drop of that on a rock with carbonates will fizz rather quickly and more apparent. just be aware to rinse the rock well where you tested before adding it in.
Ya, acetic acid works well too.
Prime Time Aquatics think just some lemon juice would work?! I was looking for stuff I had at home. I had half ton of river rock for my grow bed that I thought had been cleared with the vinegar test. It shot my ph through the roof. Had to look more into it so I didn’t do that again. Oops
Do you have any recommendations on 50 gallon aquariums? What brands do you like?
I generally just buy whatever brand is being sold at the time. Almost all of my tanks came from the dollar per gallon sales that petco holds periodically. The glass is noticeable thinner than some of the top end brands, but they have served their purpose so far. I have lots of Aqueon and Marineland branded tanks, which are ok, but not great. Back in the day All-Glass used to be good, but I don't know if they are even around anymore.
Also remember that rock can be shaped, taken apart and glued together, for those that need more fancy shapes.
Good point!
Well it depends on the rock! It could be a pointy rock (where there’s most likely many points) and smooth rocks where there are none! 😂
I have a 60 gallon tank with 1 gold severum 4” and 3 electric blue acara 2-3”. What other fish can I add if any?
You could add some cory cats or possibly some medium size tetras (something the size of a black phantom tetra)?
Prime Time Aquatics ok thanks
It’s like you know what I’m thinking!
Anywho how’s that 12 gallon long I’m forward to getting one!
It's doing great! Hope it works out well for you too!
What is it stocked with?
Right now galaxy rasboras, lamp eye rasboras and sparkling gouramis.
That’s cool any fish recommendations?
Can we use the bluestone flagstone in our aquarium?
I'm not sure - I haven't tried it. Maybe someone else has?
I use playground sand and crushed gravel all from home depot
Any Site Suggestions on where to buy Aquarium Decor? Im trying to build a apocalyptic sunken modern world and all ive managed to find is the brooklyn bridge lol
I have no idea other than amazon. :-)
I bought Ozark mountain rock and black slate 40 lbs for $10
I have a question I have this piece of wood that I been putting in a bucket for a while now and it still turns the water brown I’m not sure what to do because I wanted to put it in the tank
You can add it to the tank if you want - it will turn the tank water brown and it will gradually go away with every water change.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics alright thanks
@@PrimeTimeAquatics I have another question if you don’t mind.. Yesterday there was a video I saw of reverse osmosis water and I recently got that in my house and there is this new faucet that gives alkaline soft water but I can’t use that for fish right because it’s alkaline.. I just wanted to ask because it’s clean with no nitrate
do you have any tips for collecting wood from outside or stores?
I'll add it to the list!
Prime Time Aquatics thanks! 😁
I use rocks from my landscaping in my yard lol. I buy rock by the truck bed load to use around the house so I've got a ton of shapes, sizes, and colors. I've got local rivers also that are nothing but loose river rock, but generally I just get from around the house. I used to be into saltwater and live rock is insanely expensive. I would never pay for rock for my freshwater tanks unless I was looking for something exotic like dragon stone for a nano tank. Even then it's too rich for me lol. Certainly too much when your running as many tanks as I am, and none of them are nano in size.
Always fun when you can go shopping in your yard for rocks. :-)
Awesome video dude, ever think of donating the 2 tinfoil barbs to the Ohio fish rescue? Would make an awesome collab video and would free up a ton of space in that aquarium. If you love the barbs to the point that this is a ridiculous concept then please disregard. Thank you kindly dude and stay healthy
I thought about that when I went out there, but I couldn't work it out at the time. Maybe at some point! The problem is they are old - like 11 years old or so at this point.
Prime Time Aquatics yea that makes sense, good thinking though
👍
Hi! I got black polished river rock from lowes and realized it has "sunshield technology". Can anyone help me figure out if this is safe to use?
I wouldn't put anything in my tank with a coating. Just in case. Often it is a wax.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics thanks for the reply! If it's a wax, wouldn't there be a way to remove it? Not a chemist here🤣😅
Wood stone or slate affect my aquarium ph level? Or hardness of water ? Is bad for my fish? 🇵🇭
It depends on the starting conditions of your water. I actually did a video on driftwood and pH that should help a lot!
My husband bought beach pebbles... they're white And when you pick him up you get what looks like chalk all over your hands. You had mentioned that you stay away from stones with a chalky feel. Can I just soak these in peroxide and water and use them? I don't see a way to attach a picture but he bought it at Home Depot and it's from a company called Beach Pebble company and they are called Caribbean beach pebbles.
I would definitely soak them first. Maybe put them in a tote with water and test the water to see if it has an impact on parameters.
@@PrimeTimeAquatics Thank you... I actually called the company and he said that customers have reported that when they use them they get algae on them within a few days. So he was basically saying he wouldn't suggest using them because of that, haha! I'm going to soak them and take your advice on checking the water parameters.
Picked up 99% of my aquascaping rocks from the landscaping yard. I’m afraid to use bleach although I’m sure it’s safe. I soak mine in an approximately 10 to 1 vinegar solution for a while then give them a good scrub with a brush I only use for aquarium applications. I do not boil the rocks due to fear of them exploding, whether true or not? I do place the rocks in an 18 gallon tote and pour boiling water on them without any issues. If there’s any microbes on the rocks they better like it pretty hot. I’ve been doing this for years without any problem. I know people that just rinse them with a garden hose and pop them in the tank and claim they’ve never had any issues. I could never figure out why pet shops charged so much for rocks?
Sounds like you have a good plan! I think pet shops were able to get away with it more before the internet, but as more people realize where to find rocks I noticed they only carry rocks that are harder to find.
I have what I am sure is petrified wood rock, is it safe?
I believe it is, but I don't think I have tried it in a tank. Maybe throw it in a 5 gallon bucket of water and test the water before and a few weeks after?
I probably pick up stones from river and sea and then treat it and used my aquarium
👍🏻👍🏻🤠
Here's a stupid question thrown your way.
Is there such a thing as "light" natural looking rock? Currently I'm using rock I picked up at a landscaping place. It's called aqua blue or something like that. It is very cool looking. It is also extremely heavy. I have 9 or 10 large pieces stacked so my smaller catfish have a place to go where they're not constantly being harassed by the big bodied cichlids. Is there a rock type that might be able to perform the same function but put less weight on the bottom of this tank? I have not weighed them collectively, but if I were a betting man, I'd guess there has to be over 100lbs of large rock in there and that's not counting the gravel substrate. .
For the record, I have toyed with the idea of buying live rock people use in saltwater tanks, but oscars are so clumsy and/or derpy, I feel like it would tear them to ribbons.
Great question! Lava rock is super light. I also find dragon stone to be a little lighter than most river rocks, but a lot more expensive.
I get my rocks from my cottage, they are free and look almost exactly like serou stone.
Cool!
I get them out of my yard look just as good as what they sell at the stores. Pet stores prices are ridiculous.
Very cool!
Dragon stone is what I use in my tanks
Awesome looking rock!
the lowes website has dragon stone listed as brown garden stone for about a buck a pound they have seiryu stone listed as grey mountain stone same price they have pagoda stone, petrified wood, river rock. it all comes from lifegaurd aquatics they shrink wrapped each piece and lined the box with wood cheapest ive found hi end stones. The landscaping companies around here weigh your truck and arent able to ring up a box of rocks so they just gave them to me after a while they just started charging me a flat rate of $5
That is AWESOME!! Thank you for passing this along. :-)
Rocks are free everywhere outside
Truth!
Lol there are no rocks and stones in my area, just grass and trees
@@edward.l.h7450 really, youre really gonna make that claim? Rocks are EVERYWHERE. Move some dirt. Sedimentary rocks are formed on every square inch of earth
@@jeffreyklima7612 bro if u saw where i lived u would understand. there is about 12 meters of dirt before you get to stone here, so ill have to move alot of "some dirt" to get to them. and before you ask why its because my village used to be a dense coal mining community back in the Victorian era, and after the mines were destroyed the surrounding area was piled up with soil and dirt to cover them up, so yeah, no stone and no rocks
@@edward.l.h7450 sorry buddy, science says you're wrong. Look up some geology info. Rocks are everywhere. Claiming you would have to move lots of dirt, disproves your own point. Think before speaking
👍👍👌👌😍
Spent $5 at home depot. Bag is so big i started a 10g and 40g tank and have enough for a third one. Will never buy them from the pet store again
Nice!
Do you have a video that teaches beginners how to sterilize a used aquarium?
I don't but you could spray it down with a 10% bleach solution and rinse it. That should be good. :-)
The cheapest and most convenient place for me to get rocks is also the most dangerous - my wife’s garden.
Be careful - men have gone missing for doing that! :-)
Each state has laws about how much can be taken from public lands and waters.
I got some of my rocks from my yard. I cleaned them up and boiled them.
George Leiter lucky they didn’t crack on you.
Cool! Be careful with the boiling. Some rocks can actually explode!
@@tentyme1 I did this several time without any problems.
I live next to a river so I never buy aquarium rock's or sand.
Cool!
Do you clean them?
@@luisflores8035 probably does
Buying the wrong rocks with the fish that you have can be disastrous
I have 'expensive' aquascaping rocks in my nano tanks.
But black basalt rocks(40 euro cent per kilo) or river rocks (collected for free) for my big tanks.
Its no fun to buy 30 kilo of Seiryu stone.
Anyone notice Jason's subscribers say 66.6
Aqua Boi anyone notice you spelt boy wrong?
Too many lizards homes under the rocks near us
That could be a great deterrent. :-)
Oh no. A bit too late for me. Just spent 60ish dollars for 32 pounds of seiryu stone
That's a good price for seiryu stone!
I find driftwood to be more expensive than the rocks.
Ya, that can get expensive too!
Stop telling the secret!!!
I had to release the secret! Haha
Too be honest, these rocks are not looking good at all.
Just depends on what you want.
Prime Time Aquatics yea, I appreciate that you are giving other options to people who are new to fish keeping :)