Gem stones in aquarium.

Last year me and my family went to New York. In the Adirondack mountains they have tons of gem stone mines. We went to a whole bunch of them and found probably 2 zip lock bags full. Some are way to small, but would it harm the water to add them to a fish tank? (ex. ruby, quarts, emerald, amethyst, topaz, etc.)

I think gems are completely inert. They aren't made with anything that reacts with water.

you must use that..no problem at all....

i would be careful and test them out first because every rock type is different on how they react to water i would put them in a buxket or bowl and let them sit for a few days before adding. i would also boil them first too

Thanks :]

Hello,
I already did this in my tank. We have been mining for years. My 55 gallon has been set up for several months now and it has done fine. The current of the water will act like a very slow tumbler on many of your stones and some become very beautiful. Do boil them gently first and rinse well. I would not suggest any really soft or extremly pourous stones. I have ruby,garnet,amyethyst,opal,pearl,quartz,topaz,peridot,e merald,sapphire, etc large and small, cut and natural, and have had no problems. I have platys, tetras, molly's, guppies and there seems to be no issues so far. In the first few weeks you may need to vaccum once a week depending on how large of stones you put in until they settle in the current and the softer outside covering of some of the natural gems loosens a tiny bit. I did this as an experiment because no one really knew and so far has turned out beautiful and I have even had fry...have fun and let me know how it goes!

Hello again, I have enjoyed this site so much I decide to become a member. Just wanted to let you all know because I had done the gemstone reply as a guest as katya's fish.

okis..join here.i think now you can find the difference between this site and others..the members of this site will help you to solve your problems as here are some experienced members..

wow that's so cool, I'm definitely going to put my gems in my tank!

I just redecorated and cleaned my tank!

It looks soooo good!
It's very puffer fish-friendly.
I added some slate and like 15 plants. :] plus of coarse some of the larger gems.
I'll put some pictures up really soon!

Nice. Can't wait to see the pics.

:]

:]

Sorry, i took these on my phone so they arent great quality.

I love the way you stacked the rocks. It looks fantastic!

thanks!

a little bit cloudy!!!

no, i told you thats because of my phone. my water is NOT cloudy

Nice pics. Simple and clean. And it's a hex. I want to get a hex so bad.....

Hey guys, just a few shots of my gemstone 55 gal still in progress. I love the way you did your hex tank, it looks great!!

Beautiful!!! and thanks! what babies do you have in the net?

That's looking good! No fair. You guys get to go mining gems while I sit here in Florida with boring old flat plains.....

Ok 1 shot of my tank...! There are 8 gold mickey mouse week old fry in the net...yippee!! Here are my 2 month old mickey mouse fry in the baby hex. Now you see why I need to get my 10 gallon going...I am a grandmommy and my molly is next I think soon...Yikes!!

oh how cute!

There are 7 red mickey platy's and 2 white in the baby tank and I am pretty sure the ones in the net came from my gold mickey but I am not sure who the daddy's were or even what color the new ones will be... I only have one male platy and he is a red wag and was not with them long enough before they started having babies. Thanks for sharing with me it is so nice to share with others who enjoy this...Here they are at about a week or so old the day before I got the net for the first batch...

oh they are SO cute! they look like my baby guppies!

Thanks for the pictures. You guys have some really creative aquariums.