Buying rocks for aquarium

[skiltrip]

I am considering changing my tank over to sand, and also getting a lot of rocks for the tank, as I am getting more and more interested in africans.

What kind of rocks are ideal for a freshwater aquarium? Is there a cheap place to buy rocks that are suitable? My LFS has an ok selection of rocks usually, but i feel like they may be overpriced, simply because they are being sold in the LFS, rather than some hardware store or masonary supply.

If anyone knows what to get, and where to get it at a decent price. let me know, thanks!

 

[DanL]

find a landscaping store in your area, alot cheaper than a LFS...

 

[skiltrip]

If i find a landscaping store, what type of rocks are ok to use? I know slate is highly recommended, and that's good for any flat surfaces i want to create. but what types of roundish rocks are best/safest to use?

would they have proper rocks at a Home Depot or Lowes ?

 

[DanL]

just about any rock should work, just make sure not to select any rocks that look like they have rust in them...

The Home Depot in my area didnt have rocks but yours may differ...

 

[The-Wolf]

see my pinned topicic in chit chat
here is the link
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=55806

 

[G_Sharky]

Home Depot don't sell rocks......I got mine on my LFS and they are quite pricy even with my employee discount. The reason why I bougth it is that some landscaping company requires you to buy in bulk and I didn't really need a whole lot since i have rocks on my other tank. The cheapest way to get rock is to go outside and collect them(you'll look weird to some people, but at least your saving some money.... ) that's what I did when the weather was good, but now that it's snowing outside It's really hard to find rocks so I went and buy them......

 

[skiltrip]

so, generally, normal, everyday roundish rocks i would find outside are aquarium safe? what should i do to them before placing in the aquarium, just boil them? or is it better to roast them? or both?

 

[hankey]

I put my rocks in the oven and baked them for an hour or so. Scrub off any dirt or mosses that you can before you bake them and then the oven should kill everything else.

I was able to find a large flat rock, about 30 cm x 30 cm and maybe 10 cm thick. I used a hammer drill to drill two holes through it and the fish seem to like swiming through it.

As far as renovation stores go, do you have a smaller independant delaer near you. usually they are more flexible and might be able to sell one or two stones, but finding your own is still cheaper. And a lot of what they offer might be cement based, just made to look like different stones and that might not be the best for your tank.

What kind of filtration are you going to use? I have heard of people having problems with sand.

 

[skiltrip]

All i use for filtration is a Whisper 60 powerfilter. i haven't decided whether or not i'm going to go over to sand or not. kinda torn. on one hand the cichlids i have would be "happier" being able to dig and move the sand around, on the other hand, the stress of moving them around might not be good for them. not sure which is worse, the stress of being moved in and out of the tank or them not being able to do some of the stuff that comes natural to them, like digging.

either way i am going to be adding a lot of rocks to make a more rocky environment for my africans.

thanks everyone for the advice. keep it coming.

 

[jaimoe]

I just take them from local businesses that have extensive landscaping done. Don't take them all from one spot and they'll never notice.

 

[The-Wolf]

I just take them from local businesses that have extensive landscaping done. Don't take them all from one spot and they'll never notice.

Thats called Theft

 

[G_Sharky]

The best place to look for rocks are in construction sites, that's where I got some of my rocks, some cement boulders and even slate....just make sure you wash it really well and soaked them with boiling water for atleast a day or two, that's what I did and I don't have any problems with it.....lol.....

 

[skiltrip]

there's a stream/brook right by were i live that i didn't even think about. there is a ton of rocks , big and small, of all shapes there, even some slate.

i got a pretty nice collection of them. carrying them back was the only hellish part