What makes an aquarium feel so fantastic? Everything, from the fish to the rock, plays its role in attracting the viewers. Choosing the right hardscape can be confusing and time-consuming. There’s such a huge variety of rocks and stones available, that you may not know where to start. In this guide, we are going to explain the best aquarium rocks, the features of lightweight aquarium rocks, and how many rocks to add to a tank.
Top 5 Aquarium Rocks For Aquascaping
The coolest rocks for the aquarium are the ones that won’t harm fish and plants and make the tank environment better. Pick rocks that look nice but also give fish places to hide and keep plants stable. So let’s look at some popular rock types that are great for different kinds of aquariums.
1. Mountain Stone
Mountain Stone earned its name from the excellent planted aquariums by Takashi Amano. The rock has a color from dark to light grey. This stone is used for making a rocky landscape that would resemble tiny mountains. It contains calcium carbonate, which adds some hardness and increases pH through carbonates in water. It gives a breathtaking sight if used in small amounts as a main point in the tank.
Mountain Stonea also limits water hardness of the water. Many aquarists drench this rock in dilute hydrochloric (muriatic) acid for a few days to react it with the carbonates and lower the amount added to an aquarium. Do this with good care, use gloves, and protect the eyes.
2. Lava Rock
Volcanic rock, also known as lava rock, is a popular aquascaping rock for aquariums. This is created when gases in magma start to cool and solidify. It’s quite porous, so you can see all those little pits from the gas bubbles. These rocks come in all sorts of colors like black, brick red, light red, and deep orange. In the aquarium world, their big hunks can be shaped with sandblasting to make cool arches and rocks with holes in the middle.
The amazing thing about Lava Rock is that it won’t let calcium or carbonate seep into the aquarium water, making Lava rock perfect for any freshwater aquarium.
3. Penn Plax Stone
Penn Plax Stone gives us that vibrant fish tank vibe! Those stones are super eye-catching and are made to look like granite but are solid resin. The big flat Plax stones can be stacked easily. They are tough and long-lasting; so, you can use them safely in both saltwater and freshwater tanks. Also, the Penn Plax stones don’t affect the salinity of water.
The large holes and openings in these rocks allow fish to chill out, find a place to hide, have babies, and just hang out for longer. You can totally order extra stones based on the design of the tank. Some designs look perfect with cichlids and fish making a colony. Create different swim-through shelters to help fish hide behind such hostility and tension. These cool, natural-looking aquascaping rocks from Penn Plax will get the fish’s ocean and tropical feel back.
4. Plastic Rocks
Some freshwater aquarists prefer to keep plastic resin “rocks” rather than live rocks. The resin rocks are made out of plastic and look like natural stone. These are normally sold as kits that snap the pieces together. The cool thing about resin rocks is they are super light, won’t mess with aquarium water, and easily will come out and clean when needed.
If you like planted aquariums, choose real rocks because plants like Java moss and Anubias better stick onto those natural surfaces. Plastic rock is the most famous type for aquascaping small-scale aquariums.
5. Slate stones
This is an amazing choice for all types of creative tank decoration ideas. Since they are available in several shapes and sizes, the larger ones can be used as hills, caves, dollhouses, and caverns. The smaller Slate Stones become a lovely décor in fish tanks. Grab the stones and alternate them, stack them up like little shelves for tiny bonsai plants. Use safe aquarium glue when attaching the small pieces when putting them in a tank.
The Slate Stones can hold heat for reptiles and blend well with moss and plants. These Slate Stones have this cool natural grey color that gets super dark when they’re wet. Try making them even darker with a clear sealant and a smooth finish. But honestly, the natural Slate stones add more visual appeal because they enhance the tank’s overall aesthetic.
Best Lightweight Aquarium Rocks
If you want the aquarium to appear more natural and attractive, there’s no better choice than some nice, lightweight rocks. They provide aesthetic value as well as improve the water quality that supports plant life. Whether it’s a freshwater, planted aquarium, or even a shrimp tank, adding lightweight rocks makes the aquarium healthier and more beautiful. With these light rocks for the aquarium, it is easy to set up the perfect and balanced home for fish. Here are the top lightweight rocks that make the aquarium attractive.
Zebra Rocks
The Zebra Rocks, with their cool black-and-white stripes, give aquariums a stylish and classy vibe. Their smooth and safe surface makes them perfect for decorating fish setups of any size. Their bold look adds a modern touch to freshwater tanks and creates a chill and safe space for the fish.
Pumice Stone
Pumice stone is a super lightweight rock having a neutral color, which makes it ideal for minimalist aquariums. Its spongey texture does help in filtering the water and enhancing aeration. Pumice stone is a fantastic option for shrimp and betta fish tanks as it circulates nutrients that help plants grow.
Dragon Stone
It is highly popular in aquascaping because of its cool textured look. Dragon Stone comes in light brown and gray, which gives the natural vibe of canyons. Its rough surface is excellent for fish to hide and have room to swim around. Besides, it’s one of the go-to picks for planted tanks since it keeps plant roots nice and stable.
Seiryu Stone
The Seiryu Stone comes in cool grey and bluish colors, giving the feel of a natural mountain. Its unique texture makes it the best rock option for planted tanks and small-scale aquariums. Seiryu Stones also help water flow while giving a solid base to the roots of the plants.
How Much Rock Should You Add To The Aquarium?
When setting up a fish tank, adding the right amount of rocks with proper placement is necessary. Different kinds of aquariums need different quantities, and knowing that can make the best setup for fish and plants.
Planted Aquariums
When setting up a planted tank, use rocks and stones that are safe and stable for aquatic plants. For keeping the plant roots steady, about 1-1.5 kg of rocks for every 10 gallons of water is a good rule of thumb. Dragon stones and Seiryu stones are awesome choices since they look natural and support the plants too.
Freshwater Aquariums
In freshwater tanks, do not add too many rocks so fish have enough space to swim around. Typically, 1-2 kg of rocks for every 10 gallons of water might be enough. Use smooth and light rocks like zebra or dragon stones because they are safer for freshwater fish and make the aquarium feel aesthetic.
Nano Aquariums
These aquariums hardly have any space so just throw in little rocks. A pound of rocks for 10 gallons of water can be good enough. Lightweight small rocks such as pumice or dragon stones work well for these nano aquariums because they add lovely style without overcrowding the space.
Shrimp Tanks
Rocks are helpful in shrimp tanks because they give tiny crustaceans places to hide and create a natural vibe. Usually, aim for about 2-3 kg of rocks for every 10 gallons of water in such tanks. Porous rocks like lava stones are the best choice for shrimp tanks since they help with water filtration and aeration.
Cichlid Tanks
The fascinating cichlid prefers caves and hiding places, so these aquariums require more rocks. About 3-4 kg of rocks per 10 gallons of water is an ideal amount. Lava rocks and Seiryu stones are great choices for creating natural caves and crevices to help keep the aggressive behavior of the cichlids under control.
Reef tanks
Rocks are pretty vital in reef tanks as they provide marine life and corals to grow. Generally, add about 3-4 kg of rocks for every 10 gallons of water, but do it right so that the corals and fish can swim freely.
Related Topics: Live Rock for your Reef Aquarium.
Conclusion
You can create an aesthetically pleasing yet biologically diverse aquarium with a proper selection of aquarium rocks. Don’t forget to monitor water parameters regularly so rocks cannot affect water chemistry. Only add harmless rocks with no sharp edges and additives. Choosing the right stones for aquariums makes the underwater ecosystem healthy for fish and plants.
