Aquarium Rocks

Rocks can be used as decorative elements in an aquarium while providing hide-outs and homes for the fish that reside there. Aquarium rocks provide caves and territories, a surface to lay eggs on, and a place for algae eaters to graze upon. Rocks come in all different shapes and sizes and are made out of all sorts of different materials. Pay special attention to the type of rocks you use in your aquarium because not all rocks are safe for fish.

Rocks that are good for the aquarium do not crumble, erode, or leach harmful chemicals into the water. Slate, granite, and quartz are all examples of good rocks that can be used in the aquarium without harming the inhabitants. Avoid using rocks such as lava rock and marble. Lava rock is known to have plenty of sharp, jagged edges that can scratch a fish if it swims to close to it, or the mouth of a sucker fish attempting to graze upon it. Marble will alter the chemistry of the water causing the water to become too hard for most fish to survive in. Testing water regularly is one way to be sure that the rocks you are using are not harmful to the fish in the tank. Never trust a rock that is store bought just because they say it should be safe for the fish. If you really want to know if a rock is safe, soak it in a bucket of water for a few weeks and test the water. If the tests show that it does not alter the water chemistry the rock is safe to use in the aquarium.

Rocks can be used in a variety of ways that can be both pleasing to the eye and practical for your fish. Aquarium gravel is tiny rocks used to cover the bottom of the tank to prevent fish from becoming disoriented. If a fish can see its own reflection in the bottom of the aquarium it can cause the fish to become confused as to which way is up. This causes the fish stress. Gravelly substrate is practical in that it provides an anchor for plants and it houses the much needed, nitrifying bacteria. Algae eating sucker fish find the gravel useful because it provides increased surface area upon which algae can grow. Fry use gravel to hide themselves from predators for survival. Aquarium gravel can be bought in a variety of different colors, sizes and textures to suit the décor of the tank. It is used for the foundation upon which to build the exciting underwater scene in which your fish will reside. Gravel can be collected from the wild but all the normal precautions still apply. Gravel can also be store bought wherever aquarium products are sold. If you do not want to use gravel larger stones can be used to cover the bottom of the aquarium. Sand should be laid across the glass first to prevent the larger, heavier stones from cracking or scratching the bottom.

Source - http://www.aqua-fish.net/show.php?h=aquariumrocks

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