Rocks

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kdblove_99

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May 19, 2003
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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?
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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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.
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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.
 
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.
 
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