Beach pebbles/rocks

[strezman]

Just wondering, can adding pebbles or rocks from our local beaches have any negative effects on our reef tanks? Assuming you boil them first? Please let me know your thoughts and or experiences. Thanks!

[e46er]

They could explode boiling them so be careful

[strezman]

Yikes! Thanks for the heads up! Still looking for input.

[Coasting]

Never had a rock explode... That's a new one...

As long as the rocks composition is inert you should be okay. So be careful what you pick.

[hillegom]

As said you do not want the minerals in the rock to leach out so pick rocks carefully.
Rocks will explode if heated too fast in the air ( as when you throw them in a fire.)
Thats because the water in the rock turns to steam and cannot escape fast enough.
Boiling rock in water is ok because the temp will never rise higher than 100 deg C
So no steam as long as the rocks are submerged

[strezman]

Thanks for the responses.. Hmm, this seems to be a silly question. But what do I look for in a safe rock then? Non porous??