Rock Question

[fishboytoo]

I am setting up my 90 gal mbuna tank and I've read conflicting opinions on tufa. I've already bought about 20kg of it. Is this a good rock to use or not??

I was also wondering if it is acceptable to lean rocks against the sides of the tank when sculpting. Will this be unsafe or unstable.

Anybody heard of "green rock"? I bought a couple pieces of it. The landscaping place uses those types of stupid names. They should call it what it is. It appears to be igneous and is a dark green color. Any ideas what it might be?

Thanks
FB2

 

[Lesley]

Hello FB2,

We are in the process of setting up a Malawi tank and were told to go with Tufa Rock - however when we asked at the LFS which was best - they told us they no longer stock Tufa Rock as it absorbs Nitrate like a huge sponge - then after about 3 months it releases all this crap into the water. They advised best choice was Ocean Rock and maybe use one piece of Tufa Rock but change it every 2-3 months.

Like I say i'm new at this too - so the others may disagree, just thought I would pass on the advice I was given

I too am worried about the rocks in a glass tank set-up - but i'm sure it will be fine - loads of Malawi and Marine fish keepers build massive rocky reefs with no problems - I would say build staright onto tank bottom, and put the rocks together as stable as possible with minimal support from sides of tank.

Oh and never heard of green rock - sorry!

Make sure you post piccies when you get set up, and good luck!

Lesley

 

[fishboytoo]

Thanks for the response. I think I'm commited to using the tufa rock as it's already stacked in the tank! I am not going to spend anymore hard earned money on rocks. I hope they work out.

Now to read the manual for the filters...

A day or two and it should be cycling. I will definately take some pics when it's filled with water.

FB2

 

[SamUK]

aslong as you put the first rocks on the glass bottom of your tank and not ontop of the substrate then you should be ok.


cichlids dig and so if they can get under your rocks then you face a cave in and disaster.



not sure about the rock, i used limestone to help with my PH.

 

[kanzaris]

Hi FB2


I only can talk from experience. When we set up our 4ft malawi Tank about 12 years ago we mainly used tufa rock. Never changed it for two years until we moved . Never had no problems than. Only recently set the tank up again and now we are using mainly ocean rock with a bit of tufa we had left from all these years ago. We bought 2x 50 pound boxes of ocean rock only a few are leaning against the glass but I never had nothing collapse yet.

PS I have not heard of green rock.


Sabby

 

[fishboytoo]

Thanks Sabby, I'm glad to hear that. I'm going to give it a try with the tufa. My main concern is that harmful components may leech out of the rock.

Anyway I'll have to wait a while before I have it up and running. I've run into a problem with my stand. Look into tropical chit chat for my post for more details about that.

FB2

 

[kanzaris]

Hi Again


I recently mentioned tufa rock to my Lfs and I ask why it is so hard to get hold of (Well where I live anyway)
They said that it is realy expensive as it has to be shiped over from where ever it comes from ( I would presume africa) I never heard of stuff leaking out of it after a few month. I used to love it as you can shape it anyway you want. Well I am intrigued now Im gonna go and ask my lfs or post the question to the Fish Mag.

Sabby

 

[Marshall]

The only way to get grren rock is to house it in an aquarium and let the algae colonise it. This has happened to my ocean rock but took a couple of years however. Does look good as the rocks don't have a steralised clean look.

 

[sukie]

This post answered some questions I had. .

I live in SLC, Utah and I guess a bunch of folks here go out to the salt flats and get the rocks for free. . .but I've been cursing the weather lately - because it's been to wet to get the rocks or sand (yeh free sand too).

Here's a pic of the rocks. . . .
What do you guys think??

I'm thinking once it gets warmer I'm going on & getting me buckets loads!!

 

[fishboytoo]

Thats a nice looking rock, very reef-ish. Same sort of feel with the tufa I have. Is this rock calcium carbonate(aka limestone)? It looks like it would be.

If it formed in salt flats, wouldn't it have a high salt component to it which will dissolve in your water? I guess if other locals are using it, it's probably okay. I wish I could've gotten some for free. Instead I'm working to buy rocks, ridiculous.

FB2

 

[sukie]

Thats a nice looking rock, very reef-ish. Same sort of feel with the tufa I have. Is this rock calcium carbonate(aka limestone)? It looks like it would be.

It is!

If it formed in salt flats, wouldn't it have a high salt component to it which will dissolve in your water? I guess if other locals are using it, it's probably okay. I wish I could've gotten some for free. Instead I'm working to buy rocks, ridiculous.

FB2

My thoughts are if other folks are using it then it's good too. . .especially for the cichlids. I got a bunch, the bottom of trunk in my tiny honda civic is full! If you want to pay shipping I could send ya some. . . but that would probably cost as much as buying them. . .

 

[fishboytoo]

Yes, I think it would cost as much as buying them. I'm not sure what postage rates are but I only paid $0.31 per pound at a local landscaping company. I paid about $66 in total for about 90 kg of rock. I will never buy rock from the LFS again at 10x mark-up.

 

[sukie]

Yes, I think it would cost as much as buying them. I'm not sure what postage rates are but I only paid $0.31 per pound at a local landscaping company. I paid about $66 in total for about 90 kg of rock. I will never buy rock from the LFS again at 10x mark-up.

Yeh I know how feel. I'm slowly realizing lfs are there to rip you off.