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kdblove_99
07-07-2003, 10:17 PM
I'm getting a 55 gallon tank and will be putting Mbunas in there.

I have gone to many LFS and the rocks are so expensive, where can i get some cool rocks for a good price?

TKOS
07-07-2003, 10:24 PM
Possibly from a garden center. Check to see that they haven't been treated, though I would suspect cheap rocks wouldn't be. Take them home, boil them up afew times and you should be safe.

Dragon_Lord_Tia
07-08-2003, 12:26 AM
try a forest but be carefully in someplaces you are not allowed to tank rocks or a streem/creek/river either one of these is an awsome place to get nice smooth rocks for stacking in a mbuanas:D :D

paradigmcubed
07-08-2003, 1:20 AM
If you ever go out to Texas there is this great stuff called Texas Holey Rock. It is basically limestone that has been eroded by water etc. This creates a rock with several holes, perfect for African Cichlids.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2333274405&category=20757

I don't know what shipping would cost you and if you can't go with this try slate. You can pile it up and create caves.

kdblove_99
07-08-2003, 1:44 AM
this is what someone wrote on predatoryfish.com about limestone rocks,there is one on ebay i like alot its like $25 with shipping i will find it and see what yall think.


you need to get igneous rocks. limestone or sandstone rock deteriate in your tank, limestone makes your ph super high even for africans, and sandstone turns your tank water different colors. mostly you want high density rocks with a non pourous surface.

kdblove_99
07-08-2003, 1:46 AM
this is that one rock i like. looks like ti has awesome caves.is it worth $25? and will it disepate like that guy said? Because that would be a pricey rock if it just went away after awhile

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2333868435&category=20757

dave76
07-08-2003, 10:35 AM
Coming from texas I can tell you that if there is any errosion that takes place on limestone it is nothing that happens quickly. The reason people say that texas holey rock is great for africans is that it increases kh increases ph and also increases algae growth(great for mbuna). There are many creeks and streams filled with limestone and I dont think you would have to worry about the rocks visibly falling apart. If you use a high mechanical filtration I dont really think you would have to worry about sediments clouding your water. Porous rock give more surface area for bacterial growth so I dont see why you would want to avoid it other than lava rock which is known to leach sulfer.

Faramir
07-08-2003, 11:12 AM
Originally posted by kdblove_99
this is what someone wrote on predatoryfish.com about limestone rocks,there is one on ebay i like alot its like $25 with shipping i will find it and see what yall think.


you need to get igneous rocks. limestone or sandstone rock deteriate in your tank, limestone makes your ph super high even for africans, and sandstone turns your tank water different colors. mostly you want high density rocks with a non pourous surface.

Limestone is only sparingly soluble in water. I have tons of it in my tank and still have to artificially boost the KH and GH. It will not deteriorate; mine's unchanged after nearly four years.

The river Aire in Yorkshire starts in underground limestone caverns. It percolates through limestone. And it is not that hard and alkaline.

scott
07-08-2003, 2:05 PM
All of the rocks in my 150, including the gravel (100 pounds) came from a rock supply store. I have about seven dollars invested in the whole tank. Gravel is two seventy five for seventy five pounds and ten cents a pound for slate.

dbcb314
07-08-2003, 2:16 PM
i get rocks in creek behind my house.

Tightdog1
07-14-2003, 8:14 PM
jsut about all the rocks in my tanks are either from my backyard or the park/creek in back of my house such a good place to find them and i dont complain about the price!

paradigmcubed
07-14-2003, 9:09 PM
I've got a lot of that Texas Holy Rock, brought it home on an airplane trip after Fencing Nationals and it has worked out great. Its amazing they sell those on Ebay for so much because I've heard its everywhere in Texas, at least all around Austin where I was.

dave76
07-15-2003, 9:15 AM
Limestone is everywhere in texas, the honcombed holey rock on the other hand is prettymuch only found in the austin area.