texas holey rock or slate?

[rrcoolj]

Okay here's the deal, I have just setup a new mbuna tank with bricks as my decor. I plan to switch to either slate or texas holey rock but I don't know which one to pick. Wich one do you guys think would be better for mbunas? It's a 55 gallon mbuna tank with white sand. Give your prefrences and ideas also.

here are pics of the two types of rock for those of you who aren't familiar(the white one is texas holey rock and the black one is slate)

 

[ibr3ak]

Holey rock, it'll give you more height and depending on a rock itself bigger holes than the ones you'd really need to scape with slate, and it's also easier to take out of the tank if you need rearranging or to clean it, vs a crapload of pieces of slate (that's without gluing them all together ).

 

[mike dunagan]

mbuna, slate. They need way more places, and to get a lot with large enough holes. I use lace, and then holey for peacocks and small tangs and shellies. Large round for fronts like river rocks.

 

[gomezladdams]

I have a mix of all 3 in my 125g mbuna tank.Mike is right, not alot of holey rocks have holes that are big enough for adult mbuna to hide in.I rearrange every 6-8 weeks.A stack of river rocks,a stack of slate and a pile of holey rock.Looks awesome.

 

[rrcoolj]

If I use slate do I have to make a cave for every fish?

 

[mike dunagan]

you want more places than you have fish...

 

[JONP]

slate and round rive rocks...i like to build up a slate/ river rock design and then pour the sand on top of that. Some of the rocks a covered by sand but in a few days they'll have tunnels everywhere. Gives everything a natural look and they seem to love it.

 

[paulW]

Some holey rock (with lots of small holes) is excellent for providing hiding spots for fry. I agree that it's not as useful for caves as the fish grow up. I have a mix of rocks in my tank, but if you prefer a single style, I'd go with slate.

 

[Muske]

Either will look good on white sand. Just make sure to provide plenty of nooks and cranies.

 

[Pharaoh]

You could use either. Slate will provide you a little more flexibility with the arranging of the tank. Holey rock will give great places for frye to hide for breeding. If you aren't interested in breeding, I would go with slate or lace rock.