River Rocks

[Auratus]

Rocks around here are really expensive. It would cost me at least $100 to fill my 29 with enough rocks to make the cichlids I want happy... so I thought maybe I could use rocks from the river/stream thing around here. What would I do to clean them if I could use them or if I can't then I guess I'll have to shell out the money.

 

[The-Wolf]

hi, auratus

There are two rules for this method
1 pour vinigar on the rocks to see if they bubble (if they do they are unsuitable for aquariums)

2 boil the sutiable rock for at least 20 mins to clean and kill anything harmfull on them.

don't forget to post some pics when the tank is done

 

[KribFreak]

when you put them in your aquarium make sure the formation is stable. and even if a fish is stuck never pull out a rock. most fish can get themselves out, that's how i lost my elephant nose. just kidding

 

[semper fi]

i use silicone glue aquarium safe for rock piles

also check out the pinned topic by cichlid addict about setting up a tank. does go through in detail about rocks and setting them up in the aquarium

 

[gixer]

everyone goes on aout the vinegar method....it actually doesnt work on most rocks. vinegar is not strong enough acid to react with most types of rock.. infact i can only ever get it to fizz on mortar and concrete or very pourous sandstone.

as this is in the african cichlids section i am assmuming for malawis etc it wont matter if the rocks do leach calcium etc as this will help the buffering capacity anyway. so the acid test again will be pointless.

you will be hard pushed to find rocks that wont be suitable for a mallawi set up.

limestone, sandstone, dead coral etc that are not normally safe for aquariums will be of great benefit to a set up like this.

for anyone else reading whos not into africans but curious about rocks dont bother with the vinagar test...its useless. if you want to test rocks use a much stronger acid.. even bottle #1 from a nitrite test kit can be used...not everyone has sulphuric acid hanging arround in their homes

 

[gixer]

just noticed.

are you planning to keep them in a 29gallon?

 

[Auratus]

just noticed.

are you planning to keep them in a 29gallon?

Lol, ya... I may be rethinking it since a few people seem to think 30 gallons is too small for cichlids. I was planning on having a species only tank of whatever I get.

 

[vantgE]

Bigger is better auratus, I grabbed my rocks all from ditches and dirt piles, really like how my tank looks and ph is stable, Had to use a wire brush to get off something that was either cement or stuck on clay, this was on alot of my rocks but it's only worth scrubbing the ones you really want.