I just got some nice rocks from a flowerbed to put in my tank... i just cleaned them with a wire brush and baking soda and soaked them. how long do i bake them in the oven and at what temp? 200 degrees?

i boil em

Actually the best things with rocks is to soak them in bleach water solution....Boiling and baking if there are any cracks can cause the rocks to explode due to different rates of expansion within the rock. I have seen this happen with a peice of driftwood attached to slate bottom.

Be careful with flowerbed rocks also they may contain pesticides and other gard treatments that may cause damage to tank inhabitants.

yes they explode I know from experience in a 200 degree oven and it was an old glass door oven go ahead take a guess! I boil water turn it off then drop the rocks in even then some will crack. Rocks can and do have air pckets and air expends with heat so the rock explodes. best bet is a soaking and put a drop of PH solution on the rock if it fuzzes or bubbles it will effect the PH in your tank water.

I also do a bleach soak, a small splash of bleach in a 5g bucket of water. Follow it up with a long soak in a heavy dechlor mix too.

i usually use the bleach in a 5g bucket
method then sun dry.

We also use the bleach solution then sun dry for about a week. Not going to take any chances.

The sun is your friend when you need to disinfect something. After I'm done with a 10g qt tank it sits in the sun for a few days.

Lately here in Va we haven't been seeing alot of sun! but today is nice and sunny.

Most of your explosions are from putting a room temperature rock into boiling water, and it expands too fast! Put the rock in while the water is room temp and then bring it to a boil. (if ya want to do that method).

I personally like soaking rocks in a bleach/water solution. Soak for a few days then let dry. Make sure the bleach odor is gone before adding to your tank. If you want extra safety try adding a little extra Prime or whatever conditioner you use. I've never had any issues at all with rocks causing problems in my tanks before.
JB

i soaked them in boiling water for 10 minutes, then i let them cool down in the water for a few, then i put them in the oven for 200 degrees about 12 minutes. all was fine.