Feather Rock vs Lava Rock

drdud

drdud

AC Members
Oct 20, 2005
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Southwest of Chicago
I have seen large pieces of feather rock that is carved to make it look like it has holes and it is stacked. Has anyone ever carved this? What tools? It looked like lava rock? Is this stuff too sharp for african cichlids? They are always darting around the rocks. Also, anyone in Chicagoland (southwest suburbs) ever seen where I can get some?
 
I just recently heard about this too, after posting a "rocks wanted" ad on Craigslist in my area. A guy emailed me to tell me about feather rock, which is light, inexpensive ($0.30/per lb), and can be carved to your liking... but is also incredibly sharp. After a couple hours of research, I discovered that that cichlid-forum article seems to be the only spot on the web that has a decent tutorial for making the caves.

I'm planning on stopping by a place here in Eugene that sells it, and getting a few test rocks, to see if I can smooth them down enough to feel safe using them in my mbuna tank. The guy from Craigslist said that he used a file to smooth out the rock. I'll be trying several methods... with gloves, and eye protection. If I can't find a decent method for smoothing the rock, I'll just go with my original river rock plans, as there is a lot of darting around in the tank, so sharp rocks are out of the question.

Once I get the rocks and have the chance to try them out, I'll post back here with details.
 
Jspigs Excellent article!! Really gives me some ideas. Thank you.

oo7genie Do you still have that featherrock contact? If so, can you PM? I will look again at Home Depot. Maybe they will beef up their rock selection not that spring has sprung.

Looks like Cichlid Forum has articles, it has been used. I wonder if a little algea growth / aquarium slime would 'soften' the sharpness. Maybe all of the cautions are for the fragments created during the carving and the finished product could have the edges smoothed.

I wondered if using the rock itself to 'sand' the edges would work. Thanks for the replies
 
I wasn't given the name of the place, just that it's located at 42nd & Olympic in Springfield Oregon. Using Google Street View, it looks like all there is is a heating/oil company there called Marshalls. I know feather rock is used for certain heating purposes, in a similar manner to charcoal, but it doesn't look like the kind of place that carries/sells rock (from the street view anyway). I'm only a few miles away, so I'm going to drive out and see if I can figure out for certain which place it is later today, as well as get pricing and a few test pieces.

Sources on the web say that Home Depot and Lowes both carry it as well, but I haven't looked into either location. I imagine it would be more expensive from either of those stores than through a more direct supplier, if they even carry it. It seems that every time people say to get a part for this or a part for that at either location, my local store doesn't carry it.

From what I've read, people claim the algae growth does soften the sharp edges, but I wouldn't trust that as the only method of smoothing them out. The cautions I've seen are for more than just the fragments, but I'm willing to put in whatever time it takes to smooth them out, sculpt them, "glue" them together, and pre soak them, if it means I'm able to create a low cost, highly customized rock structure for my cichlids. Right now my cichlid tank is just kind of thrown together, with resin Petsmart decor & red lava rocks. While it's functional, my cichlids are outgrowing the holes & caves, and it just doesn't look at all natural (though the massive fuzz algae growing on both the real & fake rock surfaces is actually rather pretty, and balances the colors out)

I'll post more info when I have it to post.
 
I just received an email back from the guy on Craigslist. He says the name of the place is Lane Forest Products. It's actually about 4 blocks from where he originally said.

Here's the website:
http://www.laneforestproducts.com/

I believe it's actually Pumice, and that Feather Rock is a trade name. I'm still checking into that though.
 
Thanks for the info. I am setting up a new 125 gal tank for my african cichlids. I have always been afraid that my rock pile will shift and break a tank. If I can minimize the number of rocks that can shift and use something lighter it seems like my worries would be fewer. It looks like the course texture of these rocks would have more friction and decrease the chance of sliding off of each other.

Keep us posted.
 
I use Feather rock in all my tanks. I have had only minor incidences of fish injuries. The rock grows algae nicely. The only problem is actually getting the rock to sink as it is very porous. I either bake them in the oven for 20 minutes then immediately put them in a vat of water where they sink OR I use a large turkey fryer pot & boil them until they sink. Either way works well.

The tools I use to carve & shape the rock are coarse files, chisels, carbide drill bits and carbide blades in a reciprocating saw. Wear gloves as the rock is very abrasive.

I purchased mine at a local place that sells rock and stone for landscaping purposes.
 
I think that is partly how it got its name. There is nothing stranger than seeing a 30lb rock floating in a tote full of water!
 
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