Need rocks for your aquarium? You have decided to set up a cichlid tank, maybe your first one or maybe not. You know you want to include some rocks, but you don’t know what kind(s) to use and/or where to get them? There are actually a significant number of options when it comes to choosing rocks for an aquarium.
Before you begin your rock pursuit, however, answering the following questions might make the task a bit easier:
- What size of rock(s) are you looking for?
- What shape(s) are you interested in?
- Does the color of the rock(s) matter to you?
- What is the purpose of the rock(s) in the tank (e.g., shelter, breeding, aesthetics, conceal hardware)?
- Do you plan to stack them?
- Do you care if the rocks affect your tank water chemistry?
Some cichlids, such as mbuna and Lamprologines, are mostly native rock and/or shell dwellers in their natural habitats (e.g., Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika, respectively). Other cichlids may require a flat rock to lay eggs. The majority of rocks are chemically inert, meaning their composition won’t react with the water they’re in. That means you are unlikely to find rocks that will create problems with your tank water.
So where can you get rocks for your aquarium?
One of the best places I have found to source them is landscaping companies. These companies often have multiple types, sizes, and shapes, even rocks of different color (though the colors probably aren’t separated). River rocks are readily available at almost all landscaping companies, are abundant, and usually low cost. In fact, because landscaping companies buy in such bulk, they may just give them to you if you only need a few (~5-10). My experience has been, even if they charge for the rocks, it’s not very much (~$1-2 for a 10lb rock).
The big box stores, like Lowes, Home Depot, and Menards, also carry a variety of rocks in their outdoor landscaping supply areas. The selection will vary though, and you typically won’t find holey rock there.
Another option is to source the rocks yourself from your property or someone else’s, or even a local river, lake, or stream. Be careful with the latter, however. Some bodies of water are state and/or federally protected, which also extends to the rocks in them. This usually applies to state and national park land. Not to mention you should get any property owner’s permission before venturing on their property rock hunting. Finding rocks yourself in nature is typically more time consuming but often less expensive, depending on location and travel costs.
An in-between option to big box stores and doing your own rock hunting is visiting your LFS. Many will carry rocks that are specifically for aquarium use, meaning you do not need to know what type of rock it is and whether it is safe for your aquarium water. In fact, some rocks, like the holey rock in the top photo, will break down over time depending on their composition, which might affect your water chemistry – positively and negatively. Holey rock, for example, is made of limestone and thus can be ideal for livestock that thrive in harder water (e.g., rift lake cichlids), as they buffer pH and provide hardness that your source water might lack. Also worth noting is that your LFS may be the only place you can find holey rock (other than via online vendors). The photo at the very top shows three pieces of holey rock, distinguishable by its white color, rough shapes, and containing holes. For what it’s worth, aquarists, including myself, use holey rock all of the time.
Still yet another option is to purchase rocks online. This is an easy way to find the exact kinds of rocks you might be looking for. However, bear in mind that rocks are heavy and thus expensive to ship.
Finally, it’s worth noting that you should be careful with the shape of the rocks you use. Cichlids can be quite rowdy. I have posted before about the dangers of rocks with sharp edges or points.
Hopefully these suggestions will help you decide what kinds of rocks to get and where to get them.