Lava rocks are an excellent addition to any aquarium. They provide a natural looking environment for your fish, and they also help with filtration! In this article, we will cover how to prepare lava rock for aquarium.
We will also touch on some benefits of adding lava rocks to your fish tank.
Preparation of lava rocks for aquarium
Before you dump the lava rocks into your aquarium you want to make sure they are safe for your fish. You’ll do that by following these steps:
- Wash the lava rocks. To wash the lava rocks, fill a large bucket with water and dump the lava rocks in. You want to rinse off any dust or debris before you go on to the next step.
- Boil the lava rocks. Boil the lava rocks for at least ten minutes. This should kill any microorganisms that may be on the surface of the rock, and will also sterilize it to make sure you don’t bring anything harmful into your tank! When you’re done boiling the rocks let them cool off.
- Add the rocks to your aquarium. Once the lava rocks are cool enough, add them to your tank! If you have a bare bottomed tank and want to direct where the rock goes, place it in an empty spot so that when the water fills up it will push all of the other rocks over into place.
Benefits of adding lava rocks to your aquarium
There are many benefits of adding lava rocks to your aquarium.
- All-natural lava rocks: formed as volcanic magma rises to the surface then cools and releases gases, these small fire rocks can withstand the most extreme temperatures without damage or crumbling, making them a beautiful addition to your fire feature! Sourced in the USA.
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They provide a natural hiding place for fish and other animals in the tank. Lava rock also provides texture, so you can create caves or ledges that will allow your fish to explore their surroundings while remaining hidden from view!
Lava rocks can provide them more space, which is a good thing, as they’ll be less likely to nip at each other if there’s plenty of room! This can also prevent constant battling over territory.
Another benefit of lava rocks is the lower nitra levels. Lava rocks filter out nitrates by the process of biofilms, which are colonies of bacteria that thrive in moist areas with a source of nutrients and oxygen.
Biofilm is used for its ability to trap or hold onto substances such as ammonia where it becomes less toxic over time. This means that your water will be cleaner and clearer!
One last benefit you’ll receive from lava rocks is their natural stone aesthetic; this can help create an awesome atmosphere!
See also: How to clean aquarium sand
How to pick the correct lava rock
When you’re picking a lava rock for your aquarium, you’ll want to look for the following:
- Lava rocks should be free of any cracks, large holes or pointy edges.
- The stones should not have been exposed to chemicals, water chlorination, or other harsh treatments.
These things can risk your aquarium’s structural integrity and kill off some of its inhabitants! So make sure that it has never been treated with a chemical before adding it into your tank.
Another thing to keep in mind when looking at lava rocks if they’re from an older application (more than one year) then make sure they’ve had time enough to break down their ammonium nitrogen content. This will eliminate nitrates being released into the water column which would harm aquatic life in your fish tank.
Conclusion
To sum up, lava rocks are an easy and cost-effective way to add substrate in your aquarium. They also offer a variety of benefits that you may not be aware off such as providing more surface area for bacterial colonization which helps filter the tank water by removing nitrates from it. They also provide cover for your fish and a place to take shelter when they’re feeling stressed.
Finally, lava rocks are aesthetically pleasing and can help with the look of your aquarium which is always nice!
