Which Rocks in African Cichlid tank.
J Adams
I'm setting up a 70 gal African Cichlid tank and was wondering if
rocks from my area would be harmful. Limestone, Sandstone, and Slate
are predominant in my immediate area. Can I use these. If not, what
are the suggestions you might have?
Thanks so much.
Peace,
Venger's Orchids
I'd beware of sandstone or limestone as they're liable to crumble and
make your tank into a mess. Slate if it's a good, hard variety is a good
choice. Quartz is good if you have some nearby or can get ahold of some,
as is lava. Don't forget clay pots as well. Lots of Cichlids will use
them as protection and for breebing. Just bust the bottoms out. -Rod-
Venger's Orchids
Email ven...@vengers.com
Website http://www.vengers.com/
Basic Cultural Info: cul...@vengers.com
Listing: lis...@vengers.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nick Wagner
Venger's Orchids wrote:
>
> J Adams wrote:
> >
> > I'm setting up a 70 gal African Cichlid tank and was wondering if
>
> I'd beware of sandstone or limestone as they're liable to crumble and
> make your tank into a mess. Slate if it's a good, hard variety is a good
> choice. Quartz is good if you have some nearby or can get ahold of some,
> as is lava. Don't forget clay pots as well. Lots of Cichlids will use
> them as protection and for breebing. Just bust the bottoms out. -Rod-
>
>
Lava rock is a VERY bad choice. It contains heavy metals that can leach
out into your water. I am talking natural lava of course. If you goto
an aquarium store they might have the artificial lava rock produced for
aqauriums which does not contain the heavy metals.
--
****************************************************************************
Nick Wagner http://www.icaen.uiowa.edu/~nawagner
University of Iowa
nawa...@icaen.uiowa.edu
Biomedical/Electrical office 5301 #7
Engineering
Bill Edwards
On Thu, 13 Mar 1997 15:36:34 -0600, Nick Wagner
<nawa...@icaen.uiowa.edu> wrote:
Nick,
Are you positive about this? I have a lot (and I mean a lot) of
red lava rock in a "mbuna" tank. This tank has been operational
for over a year without problems. There are quite a few plants
in this tank and too many fish. The breed like mad and the
combination of rock and plants makes capture difficult if
not impossible.
So, what's the deal?
Oh, congratulations to the Hawkeyes. Now if they can just beat
Kentucky!!!
>Lava rock is a VERY bad choice. It contains heavy metals that can leach
>out into your water. I am talking natural lava of course. If you goto
>an aquarium store they might have the artificial lava rock produced for
>aqauriums which does not contain the heavy metals.
Bill Edwards * "Thru the gateway,
Arizona State University * off the repeater,
Department of Sociology * over the firewall,
Tempe, Arizona * nothing but 'NET'."
Venger's Orchids
Bill Edwards wrote:
>
> On Thu, 13 Mar 1997 15:36:34 -0600, Nick Wagner
> <nawa...@icaen.uiowa.edu> wrote:
> Nick,
>
> Are you positive about this? I have a lot (and I mean a lot) of
> red lava rock in a "mbuna" tank. This tank has been operational
> for over a year without problems. There are quite a few plants
> in this tank and too many fish. The breed like mad and the
> combination of rock and plants makes capture difficult if
> not impossible.
Bill,
For what it's worth, I've got well over 20 years experience in
fishkeeping, mostly in Africans. I'd guess that 90% of the tanks I've
had have used Lava of some sort in them. I've never had any unusual
problems that I would trace to the use of Lava and that includes the
period when I was breeding Africans commercially...with lava in all the
tanks. -Rod-
sut...@ix.netcom.com
I have a 135 gallon mbuna tank with about 150lbs of red lava rock, and I
have yet to see a problem. In fact several pet store have recommended it
over more expensive rocks!
Pete CD aka skippy
I've got a 170 g with 250 lbs lava rock from many different sources.
Some red, white, black & brown. I have not had any problems to date
(several years) though I have not had any success breading. I have
quite a mix of cichlids. This may account for the lack of breeding (to
completion).
Pete
Nick Wagner wrote:
>
> Venger's Orchids wrote:
> >
> > J Adams wrote:
> > >
> > > I'm setting up a 70 gal African Cichlid tank and was wondering if
> > > <snip>
> >
> > I'd beware of sandstone or limestone as they're liable to crumble and
> > make your tank into a mess. Slate if it's a good, hard variety is a good
> > choice. Quartz is good if you have some nearby or can get ahold of some,
> > as is lava. Don't forget clay pots as well. Lots of Cichlids will use
> > them as protection and for breebing. Just bust the bottoms out. -Rod-
> >
> >
>
> Lava rock is a VERY bad choice. It contains heavy metals that can leach
> out into your water. I am talking natural lava of course. If you goto
> an aquarium store they might have the artificial lava rock produced for
> aqauriums which does not contain the heavy metals.
>
Nick Wagner
I had posted that lava rock contained heavy metals, a statement which I
still stand behind!!, but it appears that I have been proven that it is
not harmful to the tanks!! I also know for a fact that there is a
commercially made lava "loking" rock that does not contain heavy metals,
perhaps this is what is being used! I myself have never ventured to use
natural lava rock.
Beverly Erlebacher
In article <33284adc...@news.campus.mci.net>,
J Adams <jima...@may-uky.campus.mci.net> wrote:
>I'm setting up a 70 gal African Cichlid tank and was wondering if
>are predominant in my immediate area. Can I use these. If not, what
>are the suggestions you might have?
If you plan to keep rift lake cichlids, any of these rocks would be
suitable. Limestone, and many sandstones release calcium carbonate
into the water, making it harder. Slate is pretty much neutral and
can be used in soft water. Just scrub them to remove dirt and other
loose material. Be sure that your rock arrangements are very stable,
even if the fish dig under them.
Venger's Orchids
Nick,
I can assure you that in our case at least, our use of Lava has been
strictly of the natural kind. Unless of course the California deserts
were littered with the artificial stuff 20 years ago :) Heavy metals are
(mostly) natural substances. In minute quantities animal life is
probably able to withstand it. -Rod-
Bill Edwards
>I had posted that lava rock contained heavy metals, a statement which I
>still stand behind!!, but it appears that I have been proven that it is
>not harmful to the tanks!! I also know for a fact that there is a
>commercially made lava "loking" rock that does not contain heavy metals,
>perhaps this is what is being used! I myself have never ventured to use
>natural lava rock.
Nope.This is the real stuff. (Lots of volcanic rock down here!)
cheers,
DWD USMC
You seem to be the most experienced one around the net, could you please
help me in finding out what type of cichlid I have? It is orange with
black stripes by its face.
thanks
alot,
Darrell D.
Anthony B. Percival
: Personally I recommend Tufa instead of lava rock if you want a lightweight
: porous rock.
Tufa is not a good idea if water chemistry needs to be neutral or acidic,
otherwise its fine, but it will raise the PH because it is calcium based.
Anthony
James Long
Mine are very happy with tufa, which acts as a water buffer too.
James Long
http://www.game-conservancy.org.uk/
Venger's Orchids <ven...@vengers.com> wrote in article
<3329A0...@vengers.com>...
> Bill Edwards wrote:
> >
> > On Thu, 13 Mar 1997 15:36:34 -0600, Nick Wagner
> > <nawa...@icaen.uiowa.edu> wrote:
> > Nick,
> >
> > Are you positive about this? I have a lot (and I mean a lot) of
> > red lava rock in a "mbuna" tank. This tank has been operational
> > for over a year without problems. There are quite a few plants
> > in this tank and too many fish. The breed like mad and the
> > combination of rock and plants makes capture difficult if
> > not impossible.
>
> Bill,
>
> For what it's worth, I've got well over 20 years experience in
> fishkeeping, mostly in Africans. I'd guess that 90% of the tanks I've
> had have used Lava of some sort in them. I've never had any unusual
> problems that I would trace to the use of Lava and that includes the
> period when I was breeding Africans commercially...with lava in all the
> tanks. -Rod-