HELP :) I need better rockwork for my cichlids

[SpanishGuy111]

Well- I made a beautiful rock wall for my 35G tank, at CONSIDERABLE expense, I bought enough lava rock to make about 90 caves in the tank, in a massive wall that slopes back and almost sticks out of the water.

My cichlids absolutely adore it, but they keep scratching themselves (Archocentrus spilurum, related to convicts- have very very soft scales). I knew Spilurum were fragile, but apparently more so than I thought. The convicts they live with have sustained no injury, but the spilurums are very badly cutting and gauging themselves every time they brush against the rocks. SO, I shall have to change.

Is there another similarly lightweight (and thus affordable) rock I can choose? I HATE the idea of flower pots, and going with a bunch of fake plants instead wont work because they will dig them up. The idea was to have a complex, african tank-esque rock wall, with plants wedged between the rocks (plastic plants) so the large mean fish couldnt up root them.

I take excellent care of my fish and I'd hate to see them hurt... please help me

thanks guys

 

[steve535]

with african cichlids you can use limestone(watch the weight!).you can also use shale or river jacks.try looking in your local lawn and garden shops.much cheaper you should wash/boil them to be safe.steve

 

[SpanishGuy111]

I cant use anything like limestone on account of its SA's- and I live in Toronto for some reason our garden and lawn shops dont sell rocks!!! Doesnt that suck!?

I've only been able to find the things at my fish store- and he charges like three bucks a pound!

 

[Aaron]

I use flagstone. You can buy it from Rona by the square foot. Smash it with a hammer or drop it on the sidewalk. It splits into nice thin chunks. Keep the ones you want and decorate your garden with the cast offs. I decorated all my tanks for around $25. If I paid the LFS by the pound I would have spent hundreds.