pics of my cichlids

[Sarahs]

http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p235/sarahscs/Fish%20Tanks/
these pics are all a few weeks old...... my one yellow lab WAS holding for the second time, but she keeps on spitting them way early..... not the end of the world if i have babies. I've only been doing cichlids for a few months. I have yet to re-decor my tank.. i think i'm going to use plastic plant pots.. I dont want to risk rocks b/c i might lose my whole tank!! and im not spending a fortune on rocks at the lfs :P

sarah

[Danzig]

Actually you could use local river/lake rock. Just scrub then boil them, if they are too large to boil you can use a water/vinegar solution to scrub them.
Any rocks that fizzle when vinegar is on them means there is an air pocket/hole inside them and should be avoided.

[Sarahs]

thanks!! I'll do that!!
SArah

[Melody]

Actually you could use local river/lake rock. Just scrub then boil them, if they are too large to boil you can use a water/vinegar solution to scrub them.
Any rocks that fizzle when vinegar is on them means there is an air pocket/hole inside them and should be avoided.

Close - the vinegar test will tell you if the rocks contain limestone/calcium, which could up your pH. However, I don't think that's an issue with African Cichlid tanks anyway.

Boil &/or bleach would be my recommendation. I rinsed and rinsed and rinsed and then boiled and rinsed one more time. Eventually my 90G was done in beach rock from White Rock Beach. :D It was A LOT of work, but I'd do it again.

[CACAdmin]

Close - the vinegar test will tell you if the rocks contain limestone/calcium, which could up your pH. However, I don't think that's an issue with African Cichlid tanks anyway.

Boil &/or bleach would be my recommendation. I rinsed and rinsed and rinsed and then boiled and rinsed one more time. Eventually my 90G was done in beach rock from White Rock Beach. :D It was A LOT of work, but I'd do it again.

Thanks! I haven't used beach rocks but would like to in the future. However, I do boil the heck out of any shells I gather from the beach... beautiful large clam shells can be found at low tide on our beaches and make a nice addition to a tank. (I gather them at Spanish Banks at low tide... the seagulls leave the shells scattered after they have dined...lol)

[Melody]

Maybe I should just pick up some wild clams then...lol.

Shells are great for African tanks too.:yes: