Best Cichlid Rocks – Reviews and Buyer’s Guide

As cichlid enthusiasts, we are always looking for ways to better our tanks. We want our fish to be happy and healthy and our tanks to look their best. One way to achieve both goals is to choose the right rocks for your cichlid tank. In this article, we will discuss the best rocks for cichlids and how to choose the right rocks for your own tank!

Comparison Table of the 5 Best Cichlid Rocks

What Do Rocks Do For Cichlids?

Rocks are a necessary part of any cichlid aquarium setup. They provide many benefits to the fish and your pets’ overall health. Here are some of the benefits that rocks provide:

Creates A Natural Environment

Cichlid keepers strive to create and maintain a natural appearance in their aquariums. This creates a more aesthetically pleasing display and provides the fish with a similar environment to their natural habitat. Using rocks as part of your aquarium decoration is one of the best ways to achieve this goal.

The vast array of colors, shapes, and sizes of rocks available for aquarium use makes it easy to find the perfect type to create your desired look. Want a sturdy little artificial rock cave? Check. Some granite rocks to add a splash of texture? Check. A group of large, flat rocks to serve as a cichlid spawning site? Sure! No matter what your vision is, rocks can help you achieve it.

Provides Hiding Spots 

Not only do well-chosen aquarium rocks create a lovely appearance, but they also provide much-needed hiding spots for cichlids. In the wild, territorial cichlids use rocks and other underwater features as a means of self-defense in a hostile environment. Should another fish enter their territory, the cichlid can quickly dart into a hiding spot to escape being seen.

In the home aquarium, these same fish often become stressed in the open environment. This can lead to health problems and even death. Providing your cichlids with plenty of hiding places can help lower their stress levels and keep them healthy.

Rocks Also Help With Breeding

Cichlids have an attractive appearance and are known for their interesting behaviors. One of these behaviors is how they mate. During spawning, the male chases and lures the female to a pre-determined spot. This spot is usually a large rock or group of rocks. The couple will swim around until the female releases her eggs, after which the male fertilizes them.

Although the eggs are often carried in the mouths of the parents, some species of cichlid will lay them on a flat surface. In either case, it is important to have plenty of rocks in the breeding tank so the parents can properly care for their offspring. Plus, the presence of an ideal spawning spot will encourage the cichlids to mate in the first place.

Choosing The Right Kind Of Rock – Buyers’ Guide

Now that we’ve gone over how rocks can benefit your cichlids, it’s time to choose the right kind for your aquarium. Here are a few things to keep in mind when selecting Rocks for your cichlid tank:

Type Of Cichlid

The type of cichlid you have will play a role in the kind of rock you choose. For example, African cichlids and Central American cichlids will benefit from the presence of dry limestone rocks and other forms of limestone pieces because this help to maintain the correct pH levels in the water. Even if you use an inert cichlid rock, an experienced cichlid keeper will likely still turn to limestone powder to maintain the proper pH for their fish.

On the other hand, species such as Oscars and angelfish are more easygoing and don’t necessarily require water chemistry balancing properties of real rock. An aquarium with dwarf cichlids may be able to get away with a wider variety of rock types, though dwarf cichlid tanks containing a variety of fish species may require some prior research on your part.

Chemical Properties Of The Rock

Choosing the right type of rock to correspond with the specific variety of fish species in your tank is only half the battle. It’s also important to ensure that the rock you select doesn’t contain any harmful chemicals that could potentially disrupt the chemical stability of your tank. African cichlid keepers are fully aware that a slight deviation in water parameters will result in increased stress levels for their fish, so they do their utmost to make sure that their rocks are made of fish-friendly material.

Making sure that your rock is made of non-toxic material is only half the battle. If you use tap water to fill your aquarium, there is a chance that you could be filling your tank with soft water. If this is the case, the right choice of limestone might be to go with calcite over dolomite, as dolomite is more likely to raise the hardness of your water.

Of course, the only way to know for sure if your water values are at a cichlid-friendly chemical composition is to test it with an aquarium test kit. These kits will provide different water values such as level of salinity, hardness, and pH. With this information, you can decide if you need a specialized African cichlid rock, or if a more general-purpose rock will do.

Shape of Rock

Whether you opt for large artificial rocks or rocks so small they resemble grains of sand, the shape of your rock will impact the look of your aquarium and the way your fish interact with it. Think about it – holey rocks provide plenty of places for smaller fish to hide, while a solid piece of rock might make a good breeding cave for some species.

Meanwhile, a lighter rock with sharp edges might not be the best choice for an aquarium full of rambunctious fish that enjoy playing. Cichlids are known for their territorial nature, so we recommend having different cichlid tank decoration to give each fish its own little piece of the aquarium to call home. A tank that only contains white aquarium sand and a few small rocks might look great to you, but it’s just one big beach to your cichlids.

Ease of Maintenance

When choosing rocks for an aquarium, something oft-overlooked is how easy (or difficult) they will be to clean. Not many people think about rock hygiene, though every cichlid keeper knows that these are messy fish, so whether or not their cleaning session will be a nightmare should definitely factor into the decision-making process.

Random-sized pieces of rocks with rough edges, nooks, and crannies might look nice in your aquarium, but when it comes time to clean them, you might find yourself cursing their existence. You should be aware that cleaning your rocks might be harder than anticipated. Harmful chemicals or cleaners are huge no-nos, so you’ll have to clean them with hot water and a small tool such as a toothpick for the best results.

Best Rocks For Cichlids – Top 5 Picks

Now that you know what rocks can do for cichlids, it’s time to learn about the different types of rocks available and find the best one for your fish. Here are the five best rocks for cichlids, based on our findings:

We’re kicking off this list with an Amazon favorite – the Aquazoo Stackable Aquarium Decoration Rock Caves. These large-size rocks are made of tiny particles of compressed sand, which makes them extremely safe for your cichlids and other fish. The fact that sand particles are fine and uniform in size also means that these artificial rocks have a lovely appearance and are free of sharp edges that will hurt your fish.

One of the main reasons why aquarists love these sizable rocks is because they’re so versatile. You can use them to create all sorts of different looks in your aquarium, from dramatic cliffs and caves to more subtle arrangements. Fancy something more organic-looking? No problem – add some live plants and you’re good to go.

One thing that keeps these from being *the* ideal rock is that they’re sometimes not as stackable as they claim to be. Some reviewers report needing to use glue or other adhesives to keep them in place. But overall, these are a great option if you’re looking for suitable rocks that will also provide a good home for beneficial bacteria. 

Water hardness is an important factor when setting up a cichlid aquarium. Hard water can be tough on cichlids, and can even lead to health problems. That’s where the Weco Wonder Shell comes in. Containing calcium carbonate, this shell helps to raise the pH of your water and make it more alkaline. This can be a real godsend if you own African or South American cichlids, which tend to do better in more alkaline water.

The Weco Wonder Shell can also help buffer your water, making it less susceptible to sudden pH changes. This is important because cichlids are very sensitive to environmental changes, and even a small change in pH can cause stress and health problems.

One downside of the shells is that they are on the smaller side. African cichlid tanks are typically rather large, so you may need to buy several packs of these shells to get the desired effect. But overall, they’re a great way to create a more cichlid-friendly environment in your aquarium, particularly if you need to add hardness to soft water.

In many ways, resin logs are the perfect cichlid aquarium decoration. They’re safe, easy to clean, and provide plenty of hiding places for your fish. The Aqua KT Aquarium Log is a great option if you’re looking for artificial rocks to use in your cichlid tank. Bits of artificial moss flecked throughout the log give it a natural appearance, and the hollow interior provides plenty of space for fish to hide.

This log is made from safe, non-toxic resin, and can be easily mounted to the side of your aquarium. It also looks quite realistic, which is a nice bonus. Try pairing this log with other types of tank décor such as live plants to give your tank a unique, natural look. This piece of tank décor is gorgeous and unique enough to stand on its own, but it will also look great with other decorations.

One unfortunate design flaw is that this type of rock may contain some sharp edges. These can be sanded down, but it’s something to keep in mind if you have small, delicate fish. Additionally, the smell of the resin can be a bit strong when first unboxing the log. Though it is unlikely that there are harmful chemicals in the product, it’s still something worth keeping in mind. If you’re willing to look past these minor issues, the Aqua KT Aquarium Log is a great piece of tank décor.

Real rock and stones are a great way to add interest and texture to your cichlid aquarium. The Small World Slate and Stone World set includes 10 pounds of rock, each measuring between 5 to 7 inches. The large-size rocks are gray in color with a natural, matte finish. They’re perfect for aquascaping and can also be used to build aquarium rock caves and hiding places that have a natural appearance.

One of the key things to note about this type of rock is that they are pH-neutral. This means that they’re inert cichlid rocks that won’t alter the chemistry of your aquarium water, making them safe for use with cichlids that are sensitive to pH changes. If you need to slightly adjust the pH of your water, you will have to turn to other methods such as using a pH-balanced substrate or limestone powder. However, these slates will not negatively impact the water quality in your aquarium.

Though the vast majority of reviewers appreciated the size and heft of these sizable rocks, a few buyers reported receiving slates that were smaller than advertised. This is a bit of a gamble when ordering natural stone products, as they come in various sizes. However, this will not be an issue if you’re using these slates for aquascaping, as you can simply choose the pieces that best fit your needs.

This 6-pack of geologist-selected and hand-processed limestone rocks is perfect for use in cichlid aquariums. The limestone is gray in color with a smooth, matte finish. Each rock measures between 3 to 4 inches in size, making them the perfect size for use in aquascaping. In many cases, limestone is also used to increase the pH of aquarium water.

One of the key perks of supporting a small, family-run business like Eisco is that you can be assured of receiving a high-quality product. These limestone rocks are no exception – they’re carefully selected and hand-processed to ensure that each one is of the highest quality. Originating from Victor, NY, these limestone rocks are a great way to add a bit of local flavor to your aquarium.

Because these rocks have been painstakingly selected and hand-processed, they come at a slightly higher price than some of the other options on our list. These are also not sizeable rocks. In our view, however, paying the premium is worth it when you get to bring out the best in your African and Central American cichlids! Well-chosen aquarium rocks pay for themselves over the long term.

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking for the perfect rock to complete your African cichlid aquarium, or you’re just trying to find something that looks good and is easy to care for, we hope our list has been helpful. As always, be sure to do your research before making any final decisions – and happy shopping!