Hey guys,

Finally got my malawi tank set up, but it's looking a lil bare, I have a few rocks but looking for some more, interesting, rocks. Where's some of the best ways/places to get rocks?

Thanks!

Stone and water world at marua rd penmure.

do they have an annoying ad on t.v ??

I always get mine from road sides, beaches, river banks, hillsides etc

I always get mine from road sides, beaches, river banks, hillsides etc

Was looking for more natural ways rather than spending a whole heap of money

What do I need to do if I pick up a rock from outside?

If your keen you can boil it and that or even put it in a salt bath to attempt to sterilise it .. but I just used to get them from wherever and chuck them in..

I usually go with - if it’s from fresh water, its probably safe. But I'm not sure what that would be up with all of your volcanoes...

Either way I'd defiantly boil it to clean it off if its from under the water and has aglae etc on it, otherwise I don't think its such a biggy

I thought that salt water was safer because if theres any salt water bugs on it then they wont live in the fresh water.. the opposite for freshwater..

I have only ever just scrubbed the rocks before adding them to the tank

I think fresh is better cause you know it won't leach out anything that it could have absorbed from the sea water but thats just the way I think of it - not that its right!

well if its from the ocean make sure you get it from the middle of the beach.. not the ends where the sewage pipes etc enter the ocean.

also if its freshwater theres going to be some bugs so its best to boil the rocks, you can also find them around mountains etc, rocks like schist are what ya want

Boil it, or soak it in a weak bleach solution if you haven't got a pot big enough to boil it in. IMO you can't be too careful and I definatly wouldnt just "chuck them in".

Thanks guys.

What are some good places around the Auckland area to get rocks? We were debating going to Rangitoto but after seeing ferry prices, decided against.

try garden centers, they have rocks etc at a fair price

Thanks guys.

What are some good places around the Auckland area to get rocks? We were debating going to Rangitoto but after seeing ferry prices, decided against.

$20 is well worth it on a nice day, the view from the top is awesome and the hike up takes less than an hour.

As for rocks tho, you'll only find black scoria, and I don't think they'll be very happy about you taking some big chunks home.

Dont be a tight a$$ and go somewhere like stone and water world where you'll have a heap to choose from and won't have to worry about being chased by doc workers or angry gardeners.

stone and water world isn't too bad for cost. Am i'm really cheap

look in a map.. follow the river and volcano rocks are a NONO..

$20 is well worth it on a nice day, the view from the top is awesome and the hike up takes less than an hour.

As for rocks tho, you'll only find black scoria, and I don't think they'll be very happy about you taking some big chunks home.

Dont be a tight a$$ and go somewhere like stone and water world where you'll have a heap to choose from and won't have to worry about being chased by doc workers or angry gardeners.

Hard not to be a tight a$$ when you're barely paying the rent That's why it's taken me many months to finally get a tank up and running (believe I was wanting the tank since early November). I'll check it out anyways tho...

you're back jasmine!!!

you're back jasmine!!!

Haha. Yes, yes I am. And I actually have a couple of fish (finally) in my tank! A few months later, but I got there eventually Got a couple of electric blues to cycle the tank just Thursday last week.

well while we are on the subject of getting things for the tanks cheep, where would you go to get drift wood,

yes the easy answer is straight off the beach or straight from the river bed (more than likely ive just answered my own question) but if i was to get it straight from there, what do you have to do to it? treat it? or just pressure wash it hard out>?

i would boil the wood and give it a good clean in tap water

and if its to big to put in a bucket of boiling water?

im thinking just to fill the bath with boiling water (well as hot as i can get it)

would that work?

if you do that i would leave it to sit for a few days changing the water every so often (when it gets dirty)

I collect driftwood from the Hokitika beach and just give it a squirt with the hose and a good scrub.