I want to buy some flat rocks for my ciclid tank and I dont want to pay top $ a my lfs so I thought I,d go to my lawn and garden store and get some there maybe slate or something. Are there any that I need to steer away from and do I need to do anything special to them before I put them in the tank. Thanx Dave E
Flat rocks[help please]
- Thread starter david emmett
- Start date
Slate is a good option as its non-penetrative so doesn't absorb any chemicals etc..
I would suggest that you rinse it with boiling water to wipe out any bacteria and then leave it to soak for about a week, changing the water every day. This is just to be on the safe side. I use this method with my slate and have never had any problems
I would suggest that you rinse it with boiling water to wipe out any bacteria and then leave it to soak for about a week, changing the water every day. This is just to be on the safe side. I use this method with my slate and have never had any problems
I think the soaking is a little overboard. Put it in a bucket with some bleach water, let it sit for an hour or so, then rinse in untill you can't smell any bleach. Soak if for a couple minutes in water that's been overdosed with dechlor, and your ready to go.
Slate, flagstone, anything that doesn't have rust on it or isn't sandstone. I get all my rocks from the local landscaping rock yard, and they usually just give it to me for free.
I also like to save money 
I got some slate rock from the landscaping place up the street from me. Cost 15cent per pound but he told me to take what i need for free. I just rinsed it in the sink and used a brush to make sure it was clean. ( was pretty clean when i got it) Lowes and home depot didnt carry what i was looking for but this place had TONS. Good luck i hope it works out nice for you!
I got some slate rock from the landscaping place up the street from me. Cost 15cent per pound but he told me to take what i need for free. I just rinsed it in the sink and used a brush to make sure it was clean. ( was pretty clean when i got it) Lowes and home depot didnt carry what i was looking for but this place had TONS. Good luck i hope it works out nice for you!I worked in a rock yard for two years and got this question all the time. Slate is a good choice, but does have very sharp edges which a fish can cut themsleves on. When i would set up tanks (chiclid)for people i would try to use a limestone, (we called it Monterey Creme, or Santa Margirita, its basically whiteish in color, the names may be different form yard to yard) which will help riase the pH. You want to say away from rocks that have iron in them as well as sandstone. The rocks with iron are reddish, or look like they have rust colors in them, you dont want the iron leaching into the water. Sandstone will lower the pH. Clean as recomended, most rocks will work i found the limestone will work the best for cichlids.
I use rocks from a creek in back of my house, make sure they are a hard rock and not sandstone or anything you can rub off with another rock, all i do is boil the rock and then let it sit for a day in tap water, then put it in the tank, oh yea and be sure to scrub all the algae off prior to boiling, ive never paid for rocks to put in my tank and they always look natural