How Much Ocean Rock

[gunman]

I have just set up my old tank to rehome my pair of yellow labs that I foolishly bought for my community tank (before I found this forum and knew really what they were). It is 160l, I know its on the small side for malawi's.

I answered and ad in the local classifieds on monday and bought 37kg of ocean rock (for £35 which seemed a good deal), will this be too much for the tank? I only set it up this evening so haven't tested water for PH. I don't have any fish in it yet as I need a heater but I have mature media for the filter housed in my external for my community tank,

Thanks for any advice.

PS, can someone tell me how my son getting a 17l tank and a goldfish 6 months ago has ended up in me having 3 tanks with a combined capacity of about 450l?

 

[SlyPolak]

I dont think you CAN have too much rock... as long as there is some open swimming space their good......


This is 52 pounds of ocean rock in my 55 gal. and I still could use some more.. (probably will end up getting more)

I got my "Key Largo" rock from here ----> Marco Rocks

came out to be about $2.30 / Lb....

 

[Squidward]

The general formula for a Mbuna tank is 1/3 rock, 2/3 swimming space.
Does this fit in roughly with the rock you have put in?

Pile the rock along the back, and sides, and then have an open space in front.

 

[gunman]

The general formula for a Mbuna tank is 1/3 rock, 2/3 swimming space.
Does this fit in roughly with the rock you have put in?

Pile the rock along the back, and sides, and then have an open space in front.

That would be about right, I'd say the rock makes up about 1/3 of the tank and I have stacked it to the back making loads of wee caves.

Thanks, that makes me much happier now. Now just have to worry about what to stock, but that's another question and another topic.

 

[SensesFail]

You lucky #28### I just paid 47 quid for 29kg of ocean rock for my 190l tank may need to buy somemore I'll see what it's like when it comes may be enough I'm toying with half ocean rock half river style with wood can't really decide. I have gravel in my tank at the mo can't decide if I should use sand or even half sand half gravel hmm how would you you seperate them l hmm

 

[gunman]

Thats quite dear, I thought I got a real bargain but the LFS is selling at £1.25 per KG or £26.50 per 25Kg Box. I may get a few more bits as I will probably be moving to a 190l corner tank in the new year.

Also, mine within 3 weeks has grown quite a bit of algae, it looks nice tho, a combination of brown and green and it's nice to watch the mbuna graze on it.

Here's a quick pic of my current setup (excuse my photography skills, I was in a hurry):

 

[SensesFail]

Looks really nice good job! Im new to this origionally was going for discus did the tank geared up for them then deciding on African cichlids so changing the look but ideally would still like to use the bog wood and plastic plants maybe would be achieved with a half and half look but yours looks nice with gravel which is what I have. Big decisions change to sand or wait and see. Just invested In an air pump so a full tank revamp i think.

Just over 1 pound per kg is very good I couldnt seem to find much in my LFS so ended up buying online. Must check out pets at home see if they have any although I'll see how much arrives just hope it's nicely shaped etc. Did yours change your Ph alot? Did you match your tap water on water changes or just let the tank do it? My tap water has a Ph of 7.5 so hoping this will increase it to 8.0-8.5 it's just maintaining this during water changes?

 

[gunman]

Looks really nice good job! Im new to this origionally was going for discus did the tank geared up for them then deciding on African cichlids so changing the look but ideally would still like to use the bog wood and plastic plants maybe would be achieved with a half and half look but yours looks nice with gravel which is what I have. Big decisions change to sand or wait and see. Just invested In an air pump so a full tank revamp i think.

Just over 1 pound per kg is very good I couldnt seem to find much in my LFS so ended up buying online. Must check out pets at home see if they have any although I'll see how much arrives just hope it's nicely shaped etc. Did yours change your Ph alot? Did you match your tap water on water changes or just let the tank do it? My tap water has a Ph of 7.5 so hoping this will increase it to 8.0-8.5 it's just maintaining this during water changes?

My rock seems to take tap water form just below ph of 7 to 7.8 -8. Personally I would leave out the bog wood, I haven't tried it myself but I believe it is meant to lower the PH of the water (counter-acting your rock).

When I change my tank I will be changing to a fine graver or sand, mbuna really like to dig and all but my largest 2 struggle with these stones (they can lift one at a time in their mouths, really class thing to watch!). At the risk of telling you what you alrady know, put your rocks in first then the gravel, otherwise your little darlings will dig underneath them. Also, I put in some perspex first so the rocks aren't sitting directly on glass, you can get a plastic mesh from your LFS too.

My community tank has fine black gravel which I love the look of, next mbuna tank will be getting it too:

 

[SensesFail]

Looks really nice good job! Im new to this origionally was going for discus did the tank geared up for them then deciding on African cichlids so changing the look but ideally would still like to use the bog wood and plastic plants maybe would be achieved with a half and half look but yours looks nice with gravel which is what I have. Big decisions change to sand or wait and see. Just invested In an air pump so a full tank revamp i think.

Just over 1 pound per kg is very good I couldnt seem to find much in my LFS so ended up buying online. Must check out pets at home see if they have any although I'll see how much arrives just hope it's nicely shaped etc. Did yours change your Ph alot? Did you match your tap water on water changes or just let the tank do it? My tap water has a Ph of 7.5 so hoping this will increase it to 8.0-8.5 it's just maintaining this during water changes?

My rock seems to take tap water form just below ph of 7 to 7.8 -8. Personally I would leave out the bog wood, I haven't tried it myself but I believe it is meant to lower the PH of the water (counter-acting your rock).

When I change my tank I will be changing to a fine graver or sand, mbuna really like to dig and all but my largest 2 struggle with these stones (they can lift one at a time in their mouths, really class thing to watch!). At the risk of telling you what you alrady know, put your rocks in first then the gravel, otherwise your little darlings will dig underneath them. Also, I put in some perspex first so the rocks aren't sitting directly on glass, you can get a plastic mesh from your LFS too.

Cheers for the advise I better get some things to fix the rock to the base of the tank do you have any ideas how I could separate sand and gravel so I can have half and half? Hmm maybe a post coming up. Still awaiting the cycling but hoping to have everything ready to change the tank once cycled

 

[gunman]

I don't know, from my (fairly limited) experience mbuna will almost rescape your substrate for you so they would mix it, unless of course you seperate the 2 with a rock or something?

I took what is locally know as 'the head staggers' this evening, I was letting some tankbusters go from my community tank. A guy called and bought my tinfoil barbs, then he asked about my clown loaches and bala shark, all were sold to him (although very cheaply). I realised what I was left with was some very small denison bards and 3 gourami's. They're not staying in my 4ft tank while my mbuna cramp into the 3ft! Swap over! .

Currently re-scaping the 4ft for mbuna. I am giving up on the community fish.

 

[SensesFail]

I don't know, from my (fairly limited) experience mbuna will almost rescape your substrate for you so they would mix it, unless of course you seperate the 2 with a rock or something?

I took what is locally know as 'the head staggers' this evening, I was letting some tankbusters go from my community tank. A guy called and bought my tinfoil barbs, then he asked about my clown loaches and bala shark, all were sold to him (although very cheaply). I realised what I was left with was some very small denison bards and 3 gourami's. They're not staying in my 4ft tank while my mbuna cramp into the 3ft! Swap over! .

Currently re-scaping the 4ft for mbuna. I am giving up on the community fish.

They will be loving the big tank they will be gutted when they are de-sized but im sure they will get over it cant believe i missed my ocean rock delivery now have to wait until Monday for those and the air pump l hmm if the sand mixes with the gravel it may look a mess hmm big decisions!