whats a cheap way to aquascape my aquarium?

Question

I want to stack rocks into a cave formation in my 30 gallon hex, but the rocks at the pet shop are way too expensive. And the plastic ones look stupid. Any ideas

Answer 1

Have any rivers or ponds around? Rocks are every where! Try just going for a walk around your neighborhood. You will be suprised to see what you can find around where you live. Also there are several great plants you can add to your aquascape to make it more interesting. Even if you aren't interested in live ones there are several silk ones out there that are realistic looking when dancing in water. My mother use to go to the beach and find coral and shells to make interesting walls and designs. Also glass looks awesome in fish tanks. I once saw in a florida fish shop colored beer bottles with the paper removed. They did it in such a way that it was very fancy. Just use your imagination. There are soo many things you can use to spice it up! Good luck

Answer 2

Rocks from rivers or streams will work. I got mine from a river. It's kinda fun searching for them.....you can get the whole family/friends involved.

Make sure that when you create your cave that it is very stable and can't be knocked over by your fish. You don't want a fish lodged under it or you tank to be cracked.

I too agree that the rocks at the pet shop are way too high but is the best way to get exactly what you want. In the long run the price of the rocks aren't that bad because you will have them as long as you want em.

Answer 3

If you want real rocks for cheap, open the yellow pages and look for someone who would sell rocks. Landscapers and landscape suppliers are good ones. I get my rocks from a local rock cutter for about an eighth of what the fish shop charges. It cost me about $12 to heavily rockscape a 75 gallon tank with lava rock (for mbuna).

Answer 4

All good answers but I would suggest giving anything you take from the great outdoors an hour long bath in a 20 to 1 bleach and water solution and rinse, rinse, rinse. You will also want to test any rocks you get to see if they are limestone by dipping them in vinegar. If they fizz like peroxide don't use them.

Answer 5

pet shop stuff is WAY too expensive. if you can find a rock quarry near where you live you can boil them and use them. avoid limestone and you are good. usually they are set up to sell huge quantities of rocks but will work deals with people that just want a small amount.

Answer 6

any natural rock from outdoors should be boiled for a minimum of an hour, changing out the water changing out the boiling water after 10 minutes boiling time, then rinsed THOROUGHLY!!
rock scapes look nice in tanks, give the fish places to hide, however, they also severely decrease the amount of fish you can have in your tank.

Answer 7

Beach sand,natural rocks, shale and stones and pebbles.
But, all have to be thoroughly washed with hot water and preferably some sea salt (or table salt) and thou roughly rinsed before using.
Good luck

Answer 8

This will get you started.

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_list.php

pvc pipe, styorfoam, and concrete are basic ingredients in most of that.