Large rocks. Dangerous or not?

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swervo513

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
May 10, 2010
482
5
33
Brooklyn Ny
I am just scared when it comes to placing large rocks in my aquarium. But I do appreciate their beauty in a natural looking tank.

I have a 180 gallon south american set up with black background, sand and drift wood. I want to add some large rocks, but am terrified of the possibility of having a 6" deep swimming pool in my basement. (its happened before)

I was impatient when I set up the tank so I did not put eggcrate under the substrate. Now I am kicking myself. I know eggcrate defuses the weight and is a huge safety precaution when adding large rocks.

My question is can I add large rocks without worrying of excessive weight and pressure put on the bottom glass of the tank? If so what is the largest I can add? (keeping in mind I do not have egg crate on the bottom)

Also what nice rocks do you recommend that would be lighter and perhaps safer for south american cichlids. Lime stone does sure look nice but I know it will raise the pH and the fish will not like that so much.

Thanks!
 
Lava rock is super light, and i dont think it will change your water chemistry but can be pretty abrasive and or sharp and could scrape/cut fish if they run into it. Basalt (if porous enough) can be pretty light, and i dont believe it changes water chemistry either if im remembering correctly. I have used small pieces of sandstone, but only small accent pieces with no change in chemistry and its fairly light in alot of cases. Some slate and shale is pretty light and wont change chemistry.
Lime stone is a definate no no in my opinion, it WILL change your water chemistry (a fact that i hate due to the geology of my area being largely limestone it makes finding rocks for a tank a lil challenging)

Anyway thats my mini geology lesson for the day lol.
 
you could put a piece of eggcrate into the tank now,burying it in the sand/gravel.cut it to slightly larger than the rock.i have collected river rocks,all over NJ.i boil them,and inspect for signs of metals.if you were worried about the type of rock it is,you could put it in a bucket,checking the PH every few days
 
virgil2090 said:
you could put a piece of eggcrate into the tank now,burying it in the sand/gravel.cut it to slightly larger than the rock.i have collected river rocks,all over NJ.i boil them,and inspect for signs of metals.if you were worried about the type of rock it is,you could put it in a bucket,checking the PH every few days
Click to expand...


good advice. I would do the same but I live in NYC. I am looking for river rocks.
 
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