Weight Limit for Rocks in 30G

[mfield4]

What is everyone's opinion on how much weight in rock and sand a 30 gallon long tank could hold?

I just purchased 70lbs of bluestone to put in there. I am definitely not planning on using all of it, I just like having different pieces to choose from. At $.19 a lb, why not?

I have probably 30lbs of PFS in there as well.

This would all be going on egg crate used for lights as well, to help spread the weight.

What are your thoughts??

[blue2fyre]

You could fill it up to the top and still be safe. A lot of the weight is dispersed by the water and the eggcrate will spread it out even more. The bottoms of tanks can take a lot of weight.

[mfield4]

Very good to know. I figured 70 would be way too many, but after setting up the rocks how I would put them in the tank, I realized I wanted to usee them all!

Do African Cichlids enjoy swimming room/open space at the top of the tank?

[blue2fyre]

Depends on what type of africans. If you are looking into mbuna, most will only use the area around the rocks.

[mfield4]

How does it look? Be honest.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2484&pictureid=21285

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2484&pictureid=21284

[rufioman]

I like it. Cover the backs of the bottom two if you're going to have cave dwellers though. What kind of cichlids are going in/already in there?

[coach_z]

IMO, it is too centered. make 3 piles, or even two. but kinda keep stuff out of the middle.

PS, you could probably put your tank on its stand, and then get in it and read a good book without it breaking.

[jpappy789]

I agree...looks too forced for my taste. I prefer piles rather than organized structures.

[mfield4]

I like it. Cover the backs of the bottom two if you're going to have cave dwellers though. What kind of cichlids are going in/already in there?

Currently cycling with cherry barbs; when I am done, and I may be already, I was going to start with 3-4 yellow labs?


IMO, it is too centered. make 3 piles, or even two. but kinda keep stuff out of the middle.

I was thinking the same thing, I could probably off-center it a little bit, but unfortunately I ran out of stone so I can't make 2 piles. :irked:


I agree...looks too forced for my taste. I prefer piles rather than organized structures.

Trust me I tried, but I couldn't seem to make "caves" with the shape of stone I have...

[rufioman]

They have a point...you really want caves in there and not just swim-throughs. I piled up roughly 100lbs of cobblestones for my Mbunas and it's just fine. You might try what you have as a background, and put two or three small rock piles on either side. It's a territory thing, really. Mbunas love their caves and will defend them, sometimes, to the teeth.

EDIT: You should be able to make caves with those. I stack cobblestones in my 80g and they basically make caves out of themselves. Labs are a good choice but your other selection will be limited because the tank itself is only 30g. Maybe go with a colony of dwarf cichlids, rams or leps or something. I have a 40g Tanganyika biotope (sans the tetras) with a breeding trio of boulengeri and two pairs of kribensis with a natural divider of rocks and live plants. The caves and hiding places help the fish with stress more than anything.

[customdrum]

i had around 80lbs of rock in a 30long when it was saltwater so i wouldnt worry about the weight to much.

[mfield4]

Maybe go with a colony of dwarf cichlids, rams or leps or something...

Rams huh? Not a bad idea... My LFS just got a ton of them in.

If I picked up 4 labs (1m:3f) how many rams do you think I could handle? Would they get along/not fight too much with the labs? (or vice-verca) I am trying to envision if the two would complement each other color-wise...

FYI I have an Aquaclear 70 and 50 on this thing, so filtration will not be a limiting factor.

[verbal]

Rams huh? Not a bad idea... My LFS just got a ton of them in.

If I picked up 4 labs (1m:3f) how many rams do you think I could handle? Would they get along/not fight too much with the labs? (or vice-verca) I am trying to envision if the two would complement each other color-wise...

FYI I have an Aquaclear 70 and 50 on this thing, so filtration will not be a limiting factor.
Labs probably are too aggressive for Rams even though they are a relatively peaceful mbuna. The big issue is the desired water parameters. Labs want high pH and hardness. Rams are low pH and soft water.

[mfield4]

Labs probably are too aggressive for Rams even though they are a relatively peaceful mbuna. The big issue is the desired water parameters. Labs want high pH and hardness. Rams are low pH and soft water.

I will probably go with acei cichlid if I can find some. I have 3 LFS within 20 min of me and nobody has them!

I did rescape my tank though, what do you think?

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2484&pictureid=21651
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2484&pictureid=21652
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2484&pictureid=21653

[blue2fyre]

Acei get way too big for a 30 gallon IMO. They are one of the larger mbuna(6") and need a good amount of swimming space. For a 30 gallon I would stick to dwarf mbuna like cynotilapia afra or Pseudotropheus saulosi.

[mfield4]

Acei get way too big for a 30 gallon IMO. They are one of the larger mbuna(6") and need a good amount of swimming space. For a 30 gallon I would stick to dwarf mbuna like cynotilapia afra or Pseudotropheus saulosi.


I guess I overlooked the acei size :screwy:

I probably won't be able to find saulosi, I looked before I got labs. I will check my LFS's for cynotilapia tomorrow though. This 30g tank is starting to frustrate me, stupid gf wouldn't let me get a 55! :irked: