9 Best Safe Rocks for Freshwater Aquarium Reviewed
Aaron Boyd
Rockwork is one of the many decorating options available for aquarists.
They form the hardscape of the setup and provide not only an aesthetic flourish to the aquascape but also provide fish and other animals with a place to hide and rest.
Rocks also provide surface area for a film of beneficial bacteria to grow on, helping clean the aquarium and maintain its water quality.
When it comes to selecting rocks, there are a few important guidelines to consider.
Not only must the rocks be clean of anything potentially harmful for the fish, but they must also be of the appropriate composition to prevent changing the water chemistry.
Moreover, they must also be light enough to fit into the tank without compromising its walls with their weight.
The following are some of the things you need to know when choosing the best safe rocks for freshwater aquarium.
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Table of Contents
Best Safe Rocks for Freshwater Aquarium – Top 9 Review
Pet stores and garden supply centers aren’t the only places to look for appropriate natural stones for aquarium use.
Online, there are a multitude of natural stones that can be adequately used in a freshwater tank, many of which come in an assortment of alluring colors that would help accentuate the varied textures of any aquascape.
So here are some of the best safe rocks for freshwater aquarium.
1. Royal Imports Decorative Polished Gravel River Pebbles
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- River pebbles are much smaller than other types of rock, which are useful for transitional areas of the hardscape.
- They resemble the natural stones found in the habitats of many freshwater fish.
- Their smoother, rounder surfaces are less likely to injure the tank’s inhabitants, making them ideal for fish with sensitive fins or whiskers.
- Being small, they also make terrific hardscaping options for much smaller aquariums.
- They come in an attractive assortment of forms and colors.
- They are too small for larger setups, and the packaging usually makes them seem bigger than they actually are.
- Be sure to adequately wash them well before introducing them into the aquascape. Multipurpose river stones not marketed exclusively for aquarium use may sometimes have residue on them that may be harmful to the tank’s inhabitants otherwise.
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2. Natural Slate Quartz Aquarium Stones
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- These stones are non-Calcareous and are pH neutral, making them ideal best safe rocks for freshwater aquariums whose inhabitants require a balanced water pH level.
- They are locally and sustainably sourced.
- Their size and unique coloration makes them ideal accent pieces for smaller aquariums
- At about an inch, you would need a lot of them to adequately decorate a larger aquarium.
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3. Pisces 17 lb Seiryu Rock
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- These stones are not excessively Calcareous and may be used in some aquascapes. The effect these rocks have on the pH is minimal under certain conditions.
- These stones are an excellent choice for cichlid tanks.
- These large, beige rocks are excellent accent pieces for more formalized aquascapes such as Japanese Itagui and Amano styles.
- They are still calcareous rocks. You cannot use too many of them in a small setup.
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4. GracesDawn Aquarium Fish Tank Pine Bark Stone
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- These stones come in an attractive blueish blackish color with white stripes, perfect for centerpieces and accent pieces for more formalized aquascapes.
- Their angular appearance makes for an excellent contrast in planted setups.
- They are an excellent alternative for seiryu rock.
- There is an immense variance in the type of rocks you might receive. Some buyers reported receiving one large rock when they expected two, and they don’t always get the weight they asked for.
- The larger sizes mean that you might need to break up an individual rock to get the appropriate usable pieces.
- They may cause acidity spikes in the tank.
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5. North American Pet’s Sculptured Lava Rock
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- They have a nice organic-looking texture and have an interesting appearance that makes them suitable accent pieces for large aquascapes.
- These pieces are solid and would not necessarily form the same pockets of stagnation that molded ornaments may have.
- The edges of this piece of rock are sharp, which makes them ill-suited for smaller aquariums whose inhabitants have sensitive fins.
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6. Aqualexs Aquarium Ohko Dragon Stone
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- The craggy look of dragon stone is quite attractive. Its texture alone is enough to make it an essential piece in the hardscape’s design.
- A large piece is usually sufficient to create an interesting focal point in a smaller aquarium.
- The stone usually comes in big and small sizes, which can allow you to create a varied hardscape with this type of rock alone.
- Expect to get a lot of them when ordering in bulk. Larger packages often yield enough rocks to supply multiple aquariums.
- These come with jagged edges that may not be suitable for sensitive fish
- Colors between each of the pieces can vary immensely, which can make it difficult to incorporate into an existing design without clashing.
- They must be thoroughly cleaned before use due to a lot of clay and dust residue.
- The rocks don’t always come in the appropriate sizes that are useful for the aquarium.
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7. Natural Slate Stone
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- Slate is an inert stone with a low calcium content. These stones will not affect the water chemistry of the aquarium.
- These rocks have an attractive texture and color; they look even darker when immersed underwater. There is also some color variety provided by the occasional presence of white quartz or brown stones between them.
- They come in small sizes, ideal for small aquariums.
- They are very versatile and can be glued together to create interesting features such as caves, cliffs, and mounds.
- They come pre-cleaned and will not need to as thoroughly washed before adding them to the tank.
- Most of these rocks have few sharp edges and are safe for most fish.
- On occasion, some of these rocks have sharp edges that must be smoothed out. This is a natural consequence of the non-uniformity of most types of natural stone.
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8. Marina Naturals Rock Outcrop
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- This rock looks remarkably natural and resembles an arched piece of lava rock or coral stone, complete with craggy edges.
- It is non-toxic and will not affect the water chemistry of the aquarium in any way.
- Much like many artificial rocks, this particular model is hollow and should be positioned to allow ample water circulation over its internal cavity.
- In addition, its jagged surface might be too sharp for sensitive fish.
- Hollow artificial rocks like this have a tendency to be brittle during transport.
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9. Penn Plax Stone Replica Aquarium Decoration
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- These are an excellent option for tanks that are meant to look a bit wacky, while still looking somewhat naturalistic enough for some aquarists.
- These have a nice attractive faux granite finish that make them ideal accent pieces for a nonconventional aquascape.
- The many hollows inside this piece give plenty of space for fish to hide, rest, and call home. This is an excellent option for African cichlid tanks.
- They are free-standing and stackable; they can be arranged around the aquarium with little fuss.
- These hollows are open, allowing the water to circulate around them without causing pockets of stagnation to form.
- These come in a variety of sizes, which can be mixed and matched in the same tank.
- The appearance of these artificial caves may not look natural enough for people going after the naturalistic look, such as a biotope.
- They share the same general template and can look repetitive within the tank.
- Some users have reported some of these artificial cave possessing a strong chemical smell that needs to be cleaned off before use. They might cause water cloudiness otherwise.
- They are very sharp and may need to be thoroughly brushed or sanded to make them safe for sensitive fish.
- Their rough rocklike textures attract the growth of algae, which can make them unattractive in some setups, but not others.
- They tend to be very expensive individually.
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The Natural Option
There are many key advantages to using natural stone in an aquarium, and they remain one of the most popular options among aquarists today. Natural stone provides varied textures and forms.
No natural rock is shaped or textured exactly the same, and their textures create a visually pleasing, organic appearance that lends well to naturalistic aquarium setups.
However, natural rocks are a magnet for algae and are much more difficult to clean. In addition, they tend to be very heavy.
The stones have to be placed and positioned carefully to ensure an even weight distribution that won’t compromise the structural integrity of the aquarium. This may compromise the look you want to achieve in the tank. Putting too many rocks, in general, can potentially undermine the tank’s durability.
In addition, some types of natural rock may also have sharp edges that could potentially injure tank inhabitants.
A key example is lava rock, which is known for its exceptionally jagged surface that can harm the sensitive soft parts of fish like the feelers of corydoras. You may need to avoid individual rocks with jagged edges.
Moreover, you are still taking rocks from nature, which can be a matter of concern if the stones weren’t taken from the environment in a sustainable manner.
An Incredible Simulation
For extensive hardscapes, artificial rocks can provide a lighter and more affordable alternative.
They are often cheaper and are made from an inert material and are much easier to clean than their natural counterparts. They are also more durable and can retain their shape for much longer than the much more brittle natural rock.
Fake rocks also give you a bit more leeway to achieve a specific look for your aquarium, which is good if you’re looking to theme your tank based on a particular color scheme.
Your designs would not be compromised by weight or chemical compatibility issues that are usually encountered when using real rocks.
However, artificial stones don’t have as much variety in terms of form and texture as their natural counterparts. You might need to buy several types and brands of fake rock to create an appropriately varied hardscape that does not look identical. In addition, the rocks and stone might not be colored in the appropriate shade and would sometimes look glaringly fake.
Moreover, many artificial rocks are hollow, and poorly designed or placed rocks can create a space of poor circulation that could cause stagnant, dirty water to form, which can be harmful to the inhabitants of your aquarium.
Compatibility Issues
You might be tempted to collect some of the rocks yourself. After all, it can save you a lot of money by just using stones and gravel you found lying around or have collected from your garden. In addition, the unique appearance of interesting stones you found lying around your home.
However, not all types of natural rock are suited for aquariums. Rocks sourced outdoors may have been exposed to various harmful contaminants.
In addition, natural stone gradually releases minerals into the water column, which may alter the water’s parameters (water hardness, pH, metallic content) significantly. These changes can profoundly impact the fish and other tank inhabitants, which are heavily dependent on stable water quality to ensure their survival.
Choosing the right type of rock is the key to maintaining (and, in some cases, achieving) the right water chemistry parameters for certain types of fish and invertebrates.
Chief among the dissolved minerals that might affect aquarium fish is calcium. Rocks high in calcium can affect the pH of the water. Calcareous rocks (limestone, marble, and dolomite) have a high calcium content and are usually not safe for use in a freshwater aquarium.
A similar case is present for coral and shells, which are made mainly of calcium carbonate; these are often best used in saltwater aquariums, where they look more natural.
Non-calcium-rich rocks, meanwhile, are excellent choices for aquascapes. Granite, quartzes, slates, lava rocks, and sandstone are a few options.
Sourcing and Testing Rocks
Many stones and pebbles marketed for ornamental or decorative purposes can also be used for aquariums.
Rocks and stones both natural and artificial that are sold specifically for aquarium use are much easier to prepare.
They require less thorough cleaning than general-purpose decorative stones and can be used in most aquariums as-is.
Natural stones can be acquired in dedicated stores such as construction and garden suppliers and pet stores. Rocks sold specifically for aquarium use are your best bet in creating beautiful hardscapes for your tanks. Often, you can simply ask your garden or construction supplier for specific types of rock. You may also gather stones from your garden or buy them online.
To be absolutely sure that you’ve gathered or bought safe rocks for your freshwater aquarium, you can employ these two simple tests to determine their composition and possible effects.
After washing the stones thoroughly, drop a small amount of vinegar onto the surface and watch for fizzing or bubbling. This would indicate the presence of large amounts of calcium and thus shouldn’t be used.
Wash them again and place them in a bucket full of aquarium water and test for pH. Leave them there for a week and test again. Any dramatic change in pH means that the rocks are poor candidates.
Environmental Considerations
Video: “Iwagumi – How to Aquascape with rocks”
The number of rocks you would need to include in a freshwater aquarium will vary immensely with your desired aesthetic and the needs of your tank’s inhabitants. Some aquascapes demand a more prominent hardscape than others.
Iwagumi setups, for instance, require a few large visually interesting rocks to complete its aesthetic.
When creating a naturalistic setup such as a biotope, the type and number of rocks you’ll need will depend on what environment you’re trying to create.
Whatever your aesthetic choices, it pays to go the extra mile and select the type of rocks that match the environments where the fish have come from.
This way, you not only make the look of the aquarium more authentic but also help create conditions that match the natural environment of the tank’s animal inhabitants.
This will vary immensely between the species; some rocks that are not usually recommended for some species might be an excellent option for another.
African lake cichlids, for instance, favor environments rich in dissolved calcium and flourish in aquariums with calcareous rocks. Other species prefer fewer rocks and prefer driftwood and plants.
Extensive hardscaping may require you to rethink your choices. For instance, a rock face would probably be best achieved through species that live in rivers and while you could always buy a sturdier aquarium for this purpose, it sometimes makes sense to use a lighter artificial rock face to achieve this look.
For many people, choosing natural colored stones is the way to go, even for aquascapes that are not strictly naturalistic. While a wacky setup might be acceptable for some fish species, others will find them very stressful.
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Conclusion
Aquarium owners have a multitude of options when it comes to selecting the foundation for hardscapes. When it comes to creating an elegant and naturalistic aquarium setup, nothing beats the aesthetic charm provided by natural stone.
The right type of artificial stonework meanwhile can provide an acceptable alternative that can look just as good on any kind of aquarium.
And with our review and buying guide you should be able now to choose the best safe rocks for freshwater aquarium
