Instructions
Dry the rock thoroughly before boiling it. If there is any moisture trapped inside of the rock, it can cause the rock to explode. To dry the rock, set it in a warm, dry place for at least a week. Alternatively, you can place a heating pad set on low around the rock(s) for at least two hours.
Set up a propane burner and large stock pot outside. While it is possible to boil rocks in a kitchen, it isn̵7;t advisable because of the risk of fumes and the smell that accompanies boiling rocks.
Place the rocks you need to boil into the stock pot. Only fill the stock pot ¾ full with the rock.
Fill the stock pot with tap water until it covers the rocks.
Boil the rocks for at least an hour. Add more water as necessary.
Allow the water and rocks to cool completely before attempting to remove the rocks from the water.
Rinse the rocks under tap water.
Place the rocks into your aquarium as desired.
How to Boil Rocks for Fish Aquariums
If you decide to get rocks for your aquarium from rivers, lakes, ponds or other natural sources, there may be parasites, organisms and germs on the rocks that can harm your tank. In order to get rid of these, you must thoroughly clean the rocks before putting them in your tank. Boiling the rocks is one way to do this. While it is generally safe to simply rinse rocks you get from a pet store with warm water before putting them in your tank, it is possible to boil these, as long as they are natural rocks and not plastic or acrylic.