Quote Originally Posted by HydroLife
Another question I have about the gravel is... Does it give off any minerals or anything that may be harmful to my babies?


Thanks!

Ive never grown hydro so I could be wrong about this...

I used to maintain a lot of aquariums and a common problem was owners adding rocks to the aquascaping and most rocks you find laying around will screw with water one way or another to kill fish. If it'll kill fish it might not have a desired affect or effect on a plant. Especially if the roots are wrapped directly around it.

Rocks can screw with the pH severely, release trace elements that can kill fish, and some stones will wipe out and entire 125 gallon aquarium full of plants in less that 48 hours. I know the latter from first hand experience. Theres no telling exactly what type of rocks the gravel is made of so theres no telling what it'll do.

I found this on another site, its context was aquarium life but like I said up there...

"were to begin well lets start our geology lesson in the igneous type

igneous rocks that are safe

granites
schists
basalts
obsidian
anorthisite

these rocks can be considered inert for the purposes of use in aquariums

Metamorphic

Slate ( if you are looking for thicker pieces of slate they are out there but less common since a slate in just a metamorphosed shale which are typically thinly bedded.
marbles (if you have hard water)
quartzite's
Gneisses

note if the rock has any pure minerals in it that are the source of an ore such as galena gold silver coper or zinc do not use then in you aquarium at all.

Sedimentary

lime stone (if you have hard water and like it that way)
sand stones not on occasion some sandstones do contain minerals that contain heavy metals.

shales are safe but will brake down over time in to a pile of sharp slivers of stone

note this is a very basic list of aquarium safe rocks if you would like a more specific answer just shoot me a line and i will see what i can do to help." - metageologist