Rocks for Cichlid Tank

T

thharris

AC Members
Jun 7, 2010
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Hi all,

I just got a 50 gallon tank and wanted to use some natural rocks to create a nice place for cichlids to live in. The only problem is most of the rocks here are very rounded river rocks and I was looking for somthing along the lines of stacked slate.

Where do you get your rocks from and do you have any other recommendations?

I was planning to go with sand bed substrate, and then stack the rocks ontop, Also people keep mentoned egg cartons, is it really ok to put styrofoam in the tank?
I was thinking of just useing an undergravel filter and use that to protect the glass?
 
I set up my mbuna tank with pea gravel from Home Depot and rocks I found in a field. If look around hard enough, you might just find what you're looking for. Or, you may even find something you weren't even thinking of using! :)

If you really want slate, go to a local landscaping store (or even your local hardware store).
 
For the slate go to a landscape, rocks & gravel, paver etc. place. Rounded river rocks make very nice displays too though, I prefer them over slate displays any day.
 
Thanks for the advice, I think you guys have converted me. That setup with the rounded rocks looks awsome. Plus I live like 2 blocks from a river that I can collect rocks that are basicaly exactly the same as that.

The only other thing im worried about now is the water isen't to hard in my area (Vancouver, BC) So I should probably use a substrate that would help out with that correct? Like aragonite sand or what ever thats called?
 
OK, We might have just run into a problem, I was going to place the tank on an Ikea lack coffe table but just realised that I have it under the tank that the edges don't match up. The tanks hanging off little more then 1/2 cm on each side. The black plastic still touches the edge.

So close I almost think it could work but thats alot of watter to worry about being spilled.

Do you think the tank would be ok, Its a 50gallon wide and it does have a support in the middle. And the black base on it it touching but like I said just hangs over on the 2 small sides?

Would you risk it or should wait and get one that fits better, ie make or craislist it?
 
I wouldn't risk it. Glass tanks need support on all sides or you run the risk of the bottom cracking. Also I wouldn't keep a tank that large on just a coffee table. I would get a stand made for an aquarium. We are talking at least 500 pound tank once filled and decorated.
 
Your right I think im going to have to make one, as if you guys didn't notice im on a tight budget.

I came to that same conslusion, while eating dinner I had images if it cracking and all that water going everwhere its better to just not risk it like you said.
 
OK, Maybe I should try and keep this on topic and post my other questions in the newb board.

So I as I said I want to setup a cichlid tank but as you can tell don't know where to start for the types I should be getting. I have gone to a local pet shop and they looked sick like they wouldn't make it even home.

It looks like right now the best ones I have seen have been in the local PetSmart which I find hard to believe.

The only thing is they don't really tell you anything other then they are an african cichlid.

Plus they seem to have sales like right now they are $5 each for assorted cichlids.

So as of right now my choices seem limited to this page :-(
http://www.petsmart.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=3970431&f=PAD%2FPet+Type+1%2FAfrican+Cichlids

PS, I'm in canada and can't seem to find any local dealers, any advised or canadians that you know of have found a good one? Preferably in Vancouver BC where I am.
 
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