rockwork - lava rock questions

[karen99]

I really like the look of cichlid tanks with lots of massive rocks, like their natural enviornment, but I just don't want the worry of the extra weight and fish digging under the rocks until they fall over...
So I was thinking of making some rockwork using lava rock pebbles (kind used for landscaping) siliconed around small plastic pots to make some caves that look at least semi-natural. The lava rock I have is reddish, and I don't know if it is dyed that color. If I boil and rinse it well, will it be safe? Also, is the rough surface of the lava rock ok for the fish? It is not sharp, just rough.

 

[blkwdw13]

It will be ok because other people have done it before as long as you let the silicone completely dry out first.

 

[c1kern]

Pumice Decor For Aquariums

I am new to your group. I have about 15 years of experience hand-sculpting pumice for fountains and aquariums(Decor). The red lava rock is great for aquariums, but it cannot be sculpted. I only use the lighter gray shades of pumice instead of the black. The red lava is actually more abrasive and is much heavier, because it is molten. Plus you would have to glue all of the pieces together to get something substantial for your tank. The black is spong like looking and has sharp edges. The gray is smoother in texture. The gray pumice also looks better and is exteamly light weight. Many people don't use it because it floats. I have developed ways to make it stay securely to the bottom of the tank. I get incredible detail in it. Also the gray pumice, when wet, is soft. Its abrasive qualities are really only prevalent when it is dry ,not wet. What's nice about the grey pumice is that I can veneer it to fit right up against the glass and create all kinds of different pockets and caves for the fish to inhabit. The veneered backgrounds that I do work out great because they really don't take up too much tank space. Plus when it comes time to do a water change, it comes out easily in one piece that is very light weight. Being a sculptor helps as well. My ancient ruin scenes come out pretty cool, especially when I run my underwater lighting inside them. Have a great day. Chuck

 

[DeRo316]

sounds cool, post some pics