2007-03-05 17:10:39 · 7 answers · asked by big bill 3 in Pets ➔ Fish
Arggh! Not all rocks can be put in fishtanks.
If a rock is green it may contain copper which you don't want in great amounts in your tank (yes medicines contain copper, but it is a controlled amount).
Now for cichlids. What the first person said is right. Cichlids generally need higher PH. Especially if they come from the Lake Tanganyika (7.8-9.0 Ph). Tufa rock and the like will act as a buffer because if the Ph drops the rocks will dissolve a LITTLE putting therefore raising the Ph with their crazy chemical magic.
Be careful with rocks as some may contain heavy metals.
Slate is pretty nutural. Petrified wood is generally OK. Granite is OK mainly, though look for strange colouring with could indicate the presense of metals.
Anyway, here is a quote from the source I linked below:
"Rocks I would recommend include limestone, slate, petrified wood, lava, granite, tufa, "pagoda," and "lace rock." Before you put these rocks in your tank, be sure to clean them with bleach. And then be sure as heck to rinse that bleach off before you put it in your tank with the fish. The sniff test works for me: if I can smell it, I know it’s still got bleach on it. I have purchased limestone that was purportedly "clean." When I got to cleaning it, I found all kinds of dirt and roots in some of the holes of my limestone. I was glad that I took the extra precaution. "
2007-03-05 19:23:54 · answer #1 · answered by Stealthy Ninja 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
First, are they African rift lake cichlids or are they New World/Riverine cichlids? Cichlids from the rift lakes would benefit from rocks high in calcium carbonate like texas holy rock and limestone. If the cichlids are from the New World or the rivers of Africa then they are softer water fish and only neutral rocks should be used like granite, slate, river rock, or many others. Some people claim lava rock raises the PH, but I found this wasn't so.
2007-03-05 23:19:27 · answer #2 · answered by Ghapy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can use just about any that are made for aquaria, but ones made from calcium carbonate (reef rock, lace rock) will help keep the pH elevated. These are very porous (holey), so they provide the beneficial bacteria that convert the ammonia and nitrites to nitrate plenty of places to live.
2007-03-05 17:17:44 · answer #3 · answered by copperhead 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Rocks that are bought from an aquarium or pet shops. Rocks that you find on the ground may harm your fish as they have bacteria and other germs on them which can kill your fish.
2007-03-05 23:34:07 · answer #4 · answered by Chelsea 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
an excellent style of the cichlids coming from africa prefer severe PH point. i might propose making use of super overwhelmed coral to elevate your PH to approximately 8.0 - 8.4 and easy use river rocks that have the organic look of the rift lakes.
2016-12-18 06:41:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
there are holy rocks??? wow i think i've been livin under a rock, go with the holy rocks. they sound important and holy.
2007-03-05 17:17:51 · answer #6 · answered by bsjokerkid 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Virtually any rock that has been properly cleaned can be put in a fishtank.
2007-03-05 17:21:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋