Lava Rock...is this the good stuff?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I got my to sink by boiling it in water in a turkey deep fryer pot from walmart. Put the rock in the pot & cover with water, hold it down with your hand to get the right depth, then boil until the rock sinks. Use extreme care with this method especially if you try it in the house!!! I did mine outside in the driveway.

You must keep the rocks submerged once they sink otherwise the water will evaporate out of the rock & it will once again float.

If you need to do any carving or caves with this stuff, the best thing to use is a CARBIDE blade in a reciprocating saw or carbide bit for a dremel or air grinder. A concrete chisel & hammer can be used if you are careful to not break the piece. Please wear eye protection & leather gloves when trying these procedures.

I bought 200 lbs of this stuff in 2005 for $60. I'm using it in my 220G for my Mbuna cichlids. They love it!! It stacks well & provides lots of crevices & caves for them to hide in.
 
hybridtheoryd16;2337394; said:
Try weighing it done with what ever in a tub of water outside for a few days and see if the air will excape. If not break it into smaller pieces with a sledge hammer and hopefully the air chamber will crack first.
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Bingo, Looks safe to me I have those exact rocks in my back yard. Ill see if I can get my landscape supplier to "give up their connection" if you want :)
 
It is feather rock and after about...2 months, should stay down. I bought a 400 lb boulder for $50 at my local garden shop and thought Id take on a project of carving it all up. I ended spending more $$ in saws and saw blades than I would have bought the caves for. On top of that, some of them cracked when they got too thin.

It looks good when done and can be done way better by someone other than me probably...Im not the best with saws. Oh yea, wear gloves. I didnt the first day when cutting it and had splinters all in my hands.

I did all this for african cichlids 3 yrs ago, then decided I prefered Central Americans much more. Go figure.:screwy:
 
capefeartarheel;2702052; said:
It is feather rock and after about...2 months, should stay down. I bought a 400 lb boulder for $50 at my local garden shop and thought Id take on a project of carving it all up. I ended spending more $$ in saws and saw blades than I would have bought the caves for. On top of that, some of them cracked when they got too thin.

It looks good when done and can be done way better by someone other than me probably...Im not the best with saws. Oh yea, wear gloves. I didnt the first day when cutting it and had splinters all in my hands.

I did all this for african cichlids 3 yrs ago, then decided I prefered Central Americans much more. Go figure.:screwy:
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lol there is some word of experience right there for ya OP
 
With all this thought about it, I think you are now commited to getting it in a tank.
 
Pour vinegar on it...If it fizzes=no good...If nothing happens=good....
 
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