Nuttawet
Fish Crazy
What type of rock and stone does malawi fish like?
What type of rock and stone does malawi fish like?
- Thread starter Nuttawet
- Start date
Mostly old school rock like Foghat . I don’t think they get stoned but you never know .
Smooth! I went back and forth for ages and in the end decided on big black river rocks and I’m glad they do as any kind of texture could cause abrasions as they dart about
I used a lot of slate and limestone.
we are in an area full of limestone ( which is why our water is so hard ), so I always used pretty much all limestone slabs
OP
OP
Nuttawet
Fish Crazy
Thank you, very good informations.
Limestone is found in their natural habitat, slate isn't.
Slate can also have sharp edges and the fish can injure themselves on it if they swim into it.
Limestone will raise the pH to about 8.5 if you have enough in the tank, and the KH might go up a little bit. This suits Rift Lake cichlids because they come from water with a pH above 7.0.
Lake Victoria has a pH around 7.6
Lake Malawi has a pH around 8.0
Lake Tanganyika has a pH around 8.5
If you have soft water (GH below 300ppm) you will need to add a powdered Rift Lake water conditioner to increase the GH and KH.
Slate can also have sharp edges and the fish can injure themselves on it if they swim into it.
Limestone will raise the pH to about 8.5 if you have enough in the tank, and the KH might go up a little bit. This suits Rift Lake cichlids because they come from water with a pH above 7.0.
Lake Victoria has a pH around 7.6
Lake Malawi has a pH around 8.0
Lake Tanganyika has a pH around 8.5
If you have soft water (GH below 300ppm) you will need to add a powdered Rift Lake water conditioner to increase the GH and KH.
I've never had any fish injured on sharp edges of slate or any other rock - you use common sense choosing the pieces. Slate may not be natural to the east African lakes, but it is very useful for building the kind of artificial habitat we like for mbuna.
We have a weathered green limestone around here, interesting stuff because geologically, it fits with North Africa, as yet another relic of the tearing apart of the continents. It doesn't add a whole lot of hardness to my tanks. Tanks with it will creep up to pH 7.4, and so far, that's all.
If I use what around here is regular limestone, the pale grey version, it shoots the pH right up to 7.8, and would probably do more without water changes (my tap runs pH 6.6 to 6.8 at this time of year), but the green version hasn't been as active in the water.
I start with very soft tapwater, so I thought it would have a stronger effect. Grey limestone certainly does in my Mexican livebearer tank.
We have a weathered green limestone around here, interesting stuff because geologically, it fits with North Africa, as yet another relic of the tearing apart of the continents. It doesn't add a whole lot of hardness to my tanks. Tanks with it will creep up to pH 7.4, and so far, that's all.
If I use what around here is regular limestone, the pale grey version, it shoots the pH right up to 7.8, and would probably do more without water changes (my tap runs pH 6.6 to 6.8 at this time of year), but the green version hasn't been as active in the water.
I start with very soft tapwater, so I thought it would have a stronger effect. Grey limestone certainly does in my Mexican livebearer tank.
OP
OP
Nuttawet
Fish Crazy
I'm just gonna use water rock and stone if i can not find lime stone or slate.
But will that do, any water rock and stone?
But will that do, any water rock and stone?
Slate is preferred not because of it mineral properties unlike Limestone.
But more because of it's form, It's used to create hiding spots and caves that are large enough for the fish to be usable. Without adding extreme points of pressure on the bottom of the aquarium.
Imagine a decor like that made of real rocks... That's why most of the time hobbyist that want a realistic look use synthetic products.
But more because of it's form, It's used to create hiding spots and caves that are large enough for the fish to be usable. Without adding extreme points of pressure on the bottom of the aquarium.
Imagine a decor like that made of real rocks... That's why most of the time hobbyist that want a realistic look use synthetic products.
OP
OP
Nuttawet
Fish Crazy
Wow that's a bunch of rocks and stones there, what type of rock and stone is in that picture, is the decoration only for malawi fish?
There are no decorations for a good Malawi set up. Everything that goes in has a function, because of their extreme habitat and their reliance on shelters. They are small fish crowded on small underwater islands of rock in a vast lake.
If your water is low in minerals, then you want rocks that release minerals into the water, like limestone. It the water is already hard, or if you use Rift Lake salts, then you choose rocks that are purely functional, like slate. In all cases, you need as many little caves and overhangs as you can make.
Tanks are made of glass, and rocks are rocks whatever their chemistry, so you have to plan for that in your choice. There is a beautiful rock near my house that probably weighs 50 kg, and would make a dream look for any aquascaper of a non Malawi riverine tank. I admire it every time I walk by it and leave it where it is.
If your water is low in minerals, then you want rocks that release minerals into the water, like limestone. It the water is already hard, or if you use Rift Lake salts, then you choose rocks that are purely functional, like slate. In all cases, you need as many little caves and overhangs as you can make.
Tanks are made of glass, and rocks are rocks whatever their chemistry, so you have to plan for that in your choice. There is a beautiful rock near my house that probably weighs 50 kg, and would make a dream look for any aquascaper of a non Malawi riverine tank. I admire it every time I walk by it and leave it where it is.
Big rocks and aquariums, are a dangerous mix.
It's an artificial decor made to reproduce Malawi lake scapes.
I imagine that filled with algae and a slightly green water to be pretty close to the real thing.
It's an artificial decor made to reproduce Malawi lake scapes.
I imagine that filled with algae and a slightly green water to be pretty close to the real thing.
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