Hi, i am setting up a malawi tank and i was wondering what rocks, and where you get them from? Please don't say ocean rocks as i dont like them, i prefer darker colours of rock, are there any good suppliers on the web?

Also in the latest PFK, it says the coral sand can trouble the fishes gills when the dig in it, i know loads of people use this (and i am), does this happen to your fishes?

Thanks, Aaron.

The thing is if you buy bulk rock on the internet the delivery is going to be huge because of the shear weight of them.

In my tank I have slate and granite etc (well I think its granite anyway)

I bought them from Gardening center and fish shops, cost about 40£ so far I think

I dont use coral sand and never have, but ive also heard of it irritating fish's gills before.

Ace of Spades has a good point there.. if you buy rocks of the net, the delivery charge is gunna be huge because of the weight. IMO, your better of going to a garden cetre like Focus, Home Base, BnQ ect and buy your rocks from there.

I got some Plum Slate from Focus which are twice the size and half the price of the rocks from the lfs (which are usually overpriced). They were £4 each (lfs rocks £8 - £10 each)

I agree with the info about rocks. Go to a builders store and buy rocks from there. If you have any good water sources (streams or rivers that aren't polluted) you can go to those and maybe pick up a few!! I did that for a couple of big rocks.

I've heard of gill issues w/that kind of sand...I'm not sure how "bad" it really is to use it.

I bought my rocks from a home improvement store, those and landscaping stores are great place to pick up rocks cheap. I had crushed coral in my tank for about a year and a half and never had any problems. The fish never had inflamed gills and were all in good shape. I changed to aragonite sand because if buffers the ph a lot better.

If you live near the country go get your rocks from the hills, I have gotten all my rocks from the mountains up here, bar obviously the tuffa rock I have, but all my granite and slate as come from the hills round my house.

You just have to get clean ones (meaning ones with no vains in them or iron)

Slightly off topic, but how do you guys test the rock you get from places other than trusted LFS? Do you use the vinegar method or are there also other ways to test rock is fish safe?

So far I have got rock from LFS or used various pebbles I find that I like the look of (beach pebbles etc), but I always do the vinegar test first

I did the vinegar test. I remember reading of another option or two for testing, but I don't remember.

to be honest I have never done the vinegar test, just purely because I have made totally sure that what I picking up is proper granite and slate, I heard you can do a magnet test, by holding a magnet losely between your fingers and moving it over the stone you can see the magnet sway if it picks up on any metals.

i use lava rock and crushed coral never had ne probs

Thanks, i have got the coral sand, i will be getting some slate from LFS.

Dont the vinegar test just test for mineral rock ?? That dont matter for hard water fish.... The magnet test is a good idea though.

You're right darrel, the vinegar test is meant to rule out those rocks that will raise your ph, which for hard water keepers is considered desirable.

I just make sure any rock I get has not obvious metal deposits or rust. This rock article from cichlidforum is a good source of information. There are also a couple of rock article on tff somewhere that have good info.

I got my rocks from a landscaping store for my Mbuna tank. I got all the rocks to fill my tank, plus some extras for only about 25 USD

i bit late i know but i got some slate from brookfields garden centre in notts 2 pieces for £5 the only other place with that offer is stapley water gardens.

This post has been edited by Breedon: May 27 2008, 11:45 PM