You can use several rocks in a fish tank. It is essential to make an informed decision on the best rock to use. Many aquarists have no issue discovering their favorite fish species, getting them, and providing them with the best underwater environment. The substrate material you decide to use for your aquarium can significantly add to its general aesthetics and provide a suitable environment for bacteria to grow.
Granite has been the most preferred of the traditional vivarium rocks for a long time. Its availability, inert ability, and aged aesthetics have made many people give less consideration to other alternatives without question. Granite is generally safe to use in aquariums because they are inert, easy to cut into neat, uniform pieces, and do not wither away quickly.
Benefits of Using Granite in Aquariums
Granite, like most igneous rocks, does not have a significant effect on water parameters. When put in an aquarium, the water’s PH levels and hardness should remain the same because it is inert. If you add granite to soft water and the PH starts to rise, quickly remove and clean the granite thoroughly because there could be rusting iron minerals on the surface.
Granite is ideal for many vivarium varieties as it can do well when fully submerged or above the ground. It can also do well in both soft water and hard water conditions. Granite can be shaped into a three-dimensions, leaving the coarse surface for bacteria and epiphyte type plants to anchor better. The surfaces can also be smoothed out using sandpaper to be used for breeding.
Granites are hard rocks to break. One of the reasons it is so prevalent in other sectors is that it can be cut into smaller pieces without breaking. It fractures whenever it breaks, and it can be interesting to use a combination of breaking and cutting.
Interestingly, granite can retain heat and be suitable for retaining the fish tank’s heat even when the heat lights go off. Additionally, if you place a slab of granite inside the fish tank, it can provide an excellent place for your fish to eat and rest.
Although granite can be ideal for your aquarium, its density and leeching can be a downside in certain instances. Though granite is inert, each piece contains different mineral compositions. One-piece can comprise more iron than the other, and can be a problem in the fish tank.
In freshwater, certain levels of iron can be beneficial to the growth of plants inside the aquarium. However, high levels of iron can be lethal for sensitive inhabitants. Ensure you clean the rock to remove dust and lose particles, and test any granite rocks before placing them in the aquarium. A quick alkaline test can ensure there are not toxic metals within the rocks.
How to Clean Granite Rock
Often, when you buy a granite rock, you will need to prepare it before placing it inside the vivarium. This particularly applies to aquariums because unclean rocks can change the color of the water. Regardless of the type of aquarium you set up, there could be potential toxins that can harm your fish and plants. Always clean the granite rocks to be safe than sorry.
Start by pouring cold water into a bucket and placing the stone inside. Scrub each stone and re-dip in the bucket of cold water. Rinse the stone, repeating this procedure, and place the granite in clean cold water. If the clean water does not change color, the granite is clean and can be placed in the fish tank. It is not advisable to use chemicals, high water pressure, or boiling-hot water to avoid the granite wearing down drastically or losing its aesthetics.
How to Break Granite to Use in Aquariums
Granite has a hardness score of six and can be more challenging to break than other types of aquarium rocks. To break it efficiently into smaller pieces, you will need a chisel and hammer kit. This kit contains three digging chisel pieces, a rock hammer, gloves, goggles, shovel set, among other items.
Granite rocks break into fracture pieces, so do not worry when you try to break them and do not get perfect shapes. If you attempt to chisel out arches or cave formation and the splits into unwanted parts, you can superglue the pieces back together. Sprinkle particles of sand with a similar color over the glued seams to seal the unnatural separation.
What Rocks Can I Use for My Aquarium?
You can use sedimentary, metamorphic, or igneous rocks in your fish tank. Sedimentary rocks include limestone, marl, breccia, sandstone, shale, and conglomerate. You can also use igneous rocks such as granite, gabbro, dolerite, and basalt for your aquarium. The metamorphic rocks you can use include dolomite, quartzite, phyllite, marble, schist, slate, hornfels, and gneiss.
All these rocks should be ideal for your aquarium, depending on the biotype. Granite, sandstone, slate, and basalt can be used for low PH levels in a fish tank, whereas you can use limestone and marble when buffering in hard water with high PH levels. You can also use lava rocks to fertilize the plants inside the aquarium. Slate, despite having very sharp ages, ages very well in an aquarium.
Some rocks can be weighty, so it is not recommended to overload your aquarium with heavy rocks as this can cause the glass to crack. You can add some sand or gravel level before putting the rock in the aquarium to prevent it from breaking or cracking the glass. If you have any problem choosing the best rock for your aquarium or identifying them, ask your local aquarist for help.
The Bottom Line
Granite rocks are safe for aquariums, though they can be extremely heavy on the glass. When compared with other types of aquarium rocks, granite has a legacy. Despite not being the lightest, especially in large quantities, it has pleasing aesthetics suitable for the enclosure. With the ability to be cut into custom shapes, it is suitable for miniature or nano fish tanks.
While it has become popular to add stone and rocks to an aquarium, it is advisable to do some research to ensure your choice is fish and aquarium friendly before making a rushed decision. Granite is available in several colors, allowing you to select the best, color for your aquarium. Despite increasing the maintenance cost, granite’s advantages outweigh its few disadvantages.