rocks

Glass, Aquarium Backside

Rocks

Water

Styrofoam

Sand, Gravel etc.

Glass, Aquarium

Bottom

Styrofoam

Aquarium Shelve

Copyright © 2004 Klaus Steinhaus

Text Box: Cichlids from the East-African Rift Lakes need rocks as the main decoration item. Now that sounds pretty simple, or? Well, let me tell you that it is not as simple as it sounds. I learned this lesson the hard way and would like to spear others the same experience. Any tank I set up, especially all-glass tanks, has a 1/4” Styrofoam under it. That will compensate for any twisting. Now that is probably nothing new for any “old” hobbyist. However, I also have Styrofoam inside the tank under every heavy rock (see sketch). Just consider all the weight of your rocks sitting on a single piece of gravel. The whole weight is concentrated on that single point. It is easy to see that the chances of cracking the bottom is much higher when this little piece of gravel sits right on the glass then under a piece of Styrofoam. I am doing this now for the last 20 years and never had a problem. It does not effect the fish in any way, even the heavy diggers. I have lost two tanks that way until an “old” hobbyist showed me that little trick. It does not have to be Styrofoam. I have seen some people use egg crate and it works the same. Good luck.