Aquarium Rocks

One of the really nice features of fresh and saltwater aquariums, are the natural materials you can use, such as aquarium rocks. Some hobbyists build incredibly complex and beautiful structures that are self-supporting, and highly stable.

If you’d like to add a little natural beauty to your aquarium, then by all means consider “real” rocks, but make sure you know which ones contain harmful elements.

Slate is a good, solid rock without trace elements, or veins of other materials in it. Some egg layers like slate set at an angle, to use as a spawning ground. Granite is also a good choice, for its non-degenerative structure. Also recommended for their composition, are lava rock, quartz, onyx, and petrified wood. Quartz is particularly nice, because it comes in such a wide range of colors and varieties, including banded agates.

Marble, while it is pretty, is also a “soft” rock that will eventually diffuse into the water. One trick that many hobbyists use, is to put a few drops of white vinegar on a rock. If it fizzes, the composition is not hard enough for an aquarium.

When you do bring home natural rocks, make sure they are from a chemical and contaminant-free environment. Scrub them in warm water, with a clean toothbrush. Do not use soap in any form.

If you prefer to “help” nature along, you can purchase imitation rocks from any pet shop or online supplier. These are generally a ceramic product, and often can’t be differentiated from the real thing.

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