Want to aquascape my Mbuna tank...

[keane]

Hi Folks,

Gonna start scaping my 55 gallon tank this weekend.

Where do you people get your rocks from?

Have trawled through my LFS's and the rock prices are scandalous....£7.99 and upwards for one piece of rock!!!!

Been looking on the B&Q website (for those oversea this is our country's largest DIY franchise) and have seen 17kg bags of slate, granite rock and also rainbow rock (which would look superb in my tank!!) with prices ranging from £3.98 to no more than £9.98.

Are these types of rock ok to use in my Mbuna tank??

I want to use larger rocks as opposed to smaller ones and don't know where else I can look?

Any advices are appreciated.

cheers

steve B)

 

[SarahBravo]

Rainbow rock? Steve, why didn't you tell me this before I spent almost £40 at the LFS on 'ocean' rock grrrrrrrr

There are some good cichlid sites here and here. From the sound of it, large smooth rocks are ideal, but any kind of rock will do as long as it creates caves and territory areas.

I bought a load of chunks of slate in the rockery section of my local garden centre. However, when I smashed them up a bit to get them to the size I wanted, loads of the edges were really sharp (doh!!) so I ended up not using it.

Looking forward to the photos!

Sarah

PS. Just checked out the B&Q website - excellent find!!!!!! Excellent selection of pebbles, cobbles and boulders for those people in the UK. You still shoulda told me earlier tho!!

 

[Raechal]

I like the rainbow rock look. I had a piece in my 29 gallon. I didn't have any mbunas, but my glass cats loved it. I don't use it anymore, it is sitting in my room in a cabinet. I wish I could send it to you but I don't know how much shipping would be. It weighs about 5-10 lbs I think.

 

[SuckerLove86]

At my college, there are tons of little "rock gardens" set up in one of the parking lots. They have a TON of neat rocks in roughly 10 different rock gardens.... from lava rock to slate to rainbow rock and so forth.... all sorts of sizes, lengths, shapes.... I borrowed about 30 pounds of various rock and cleaned the heck out of it... was able to make quite a few caves.

Best part about it, it was all free. I'm sure they won't miss those rocks too much

BTW, SarahBravo, that TX Holey Rock looks AWESOME. I've never seen it before though, and I live in Texas. I'll be traveling to central texas this weekend, so if I can find any holey rock I'll be more than willing to send some pieces out to whoever for the price of shipping.

 

[freddyk]

Most rocks are good for them - if they affect the water it's usually in a good way. Limestone keeps the ph high. I use lava rock cause I love the look once it's smothered in healthy algae. slate, granite, rainbow rock, river rock... all good.

I get it from a rock cutter for about 15 cents per lb, rather then the lfs for over two bucks per lb. (small difference!)

 

[rl1oyd]

Yea iv got the rainbow rock in my tank looks really good, all my mates think iv painted it.
Also got some other rock like rainbow thats all different shades of Orange.
Also used slate, all of these rocks are very heavy though!!
I have put some tufa rock in too you can buy it from Aquatic web sites.
Its expensive but no more than the rest iv mentioned, its really light has loads of holes for baby fish, and helps the PH of the water.
Id also use coral sand for the bottom of the tank, i was origionaly told to use gravel, then coral sand so ended up paying for both

 

[keane]

Rainbow rock? Steve, why didn't you tell me this before I spent almost £40 at the LFS on 'ocean' rock grrrrrrrr

Sorry Sarah hun!!!

only spotted it myself not long before posting my query.

Have gotta say though....your tank and the ocean rock looks fantastic anyways so i wouldn't be too miffed!

I get it from a rock cutter for about 15 cents per lb, rather then the lfs for over two bucks per lb. (small difference!)

Your not kidding about the difference Freddyk!! It just goes to show if you have a a look round you can always save some cash somewhere along the line!

will post some pictures once it's done (and if I can work out how to load them!!)

Thanks to all for your advices.

speak to y'all soon.

steve B)