whats the best rock to use?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

Best Rock for Rift Valley Cichlid Communities

  • Lace Rock/Honeycomb Limestone

    Votes: 21 55.3%
  • Granite Chunks

    Votes: 2 5.3%
  • Granite Slabs

    Votes: 2 5.3%
  • Slate/Shale

    Votes: 7 18.4%
  • Other

    Votes: 6 15.8%

  • Total voters
    38
Well I dont think ive honestly ever seen granite in a tank, that im aware of. but im guessing its more like big round stones. then id say texas, especially for a tanganyikan tank with rock dwellers they love dipping in and out of the rock work. I was concidering texas in my tank also, but there is none to be found around here and I was just diggin the lace a little more. but you will be happy with tex.
 
Slate. Whatever's free that isn't sharp and won't disintegrate and fowl your water (shale).

Easy to build caves and easy to pull out to catch fish.
 
ya granite just looks like grayish black rocks, or small boulders in the tank, but its easy to get around here
 
I have granite cobble stone in my mbuna tank. It's now covered in algae and looks very natural but it was a huge PITA to stack and is subject to shifting.

I'm thinking about switching to some nice black chunk rock I saw at the landscaping place. I considered lave rock but I worry about the fish hurting themselves or my eel getting scraped when he moves to that tank.

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I would go to a local stone\landscaping company and see what they have there. I got some form of slate (I think) used for landscaping puroses and was flatter uneven stone almost black and really easy to stack and make caves. Just bang another rock agiasnt any sharp edges on them to smooth them out and you will be fine. It also only cost .14 cents\lbs.
 
I like slate rocks because every now and then I do a complete tank make over and I can be more creative with slate, while still looking natural.
 
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