Skip to Content

5 Easy Steps to Prepare Lava Rocks for Aquarium

5 Easy Steps to Prepare Lava Rocks for Aquarium

Lava Rocks in Aquarium – 5 Easy to follow Steps to Prepare Lava Rocks for Aquarium

We all once in our lifetime, think of buying an aquarium and as a matter of fact, an aquarium is an amazing way to enhance our home decor.
An aquarium not only works as a fish habitat but also adds stunning beauty to your home.
 
Why not buy lava rocks for the aquarium and add it to your aquarium to enhance its beauty.

However, maintaining an aquarium is, not a piece of cake, it does require extra care and maintenance to maintain its beauty. But you can easily handle and manage your aquarium and luckily, one of the best ways is adding some lava rocks in the aquarium.

 
5 Easy Steps To Prepare Lava Rocks For Aquarium

5 Easy Steps To Prepare Lava Rocks For Aquarium

 

Adding lava rocks in the aquarium not only enhances your aquarium beauty but also makes a more comfortable and home-like environment to your aquarium inhabitants. So, adding lava rocks is definitely going to help you and your aquarium in many ways.
 
This guide is to highlight all the possible ways on how to prepare lava rocks for the aquarium. I have share five points that you can follow and prepare your lava rocks for aquarium.





You can also check a quick video but reading is recommended as it is more detailed



 A video that shows how you can prepare your first lava rocks for aquarium



But, before you add the lava rocks in the aquarium, it’s very important to prepare them because unprepared lava rocks for aquarium can cause water contamination.

What do you need to clean the rocks?



They are only a few things, you will need 
  1. Brush
  2. Running Water
  3. Bucket
  4. Styrofoam sheets ( only if your aquarium is made of glass )
  5. Clean sand
  6. Bleach solution
  7. Sunlight ( Don’t Laugh, I’m serious, you will need sunlight where you can bust the lava rocks – You can’t do it at nights, you will need to do this in day time 😀 )


Okay, it’s Enough, Now it’s time to start the job ( If you collected all the mentioned items ).
 
Oh wait, I just forgot one item and that is Lava rocks, you need to buy some lava rocks for aquarium from the store or online.
 
5 Easy Steps to prepare lava rocks for aquarium
 
 
5 Easy Steps to prepare lava rocks for aquarium

5 Easy Steps to prepare lava rocks for aquarium

Infographic belongs to InPetCare that shows some basic steps on how to prepare lava rocks for aquarium.

just buying the lava rocks from the store and adding them in the aquarium will do the work – no, never keep this kind of misconception. You must ensure that they are not harmful to your aquarium inhabitants by preparing them accordingly.
 
Preparing lava rocks for aquarium is not a tough task, anybody can do this – by following this 7 easy to follow steps that involve simple steps like cleaning, drying and disinfecting them.
 
 
  • Step 1 
 Take an empty bucket and put lava rocks into that bucket. ( Easy, Right? 🙂 )
 
 
  • Step 2 
Add 1 gallon of water or more if needed to the bucket of lava rocks until it’s full – Scrub the rocks as hard as you can with the help of a brush and repeat the process until the rocks seem clear enough.
 
(Note - If you find any rock with a sharp edge, you must rub two rocks together to remove the sharpness, as they can harm your fish ) 
  • Step3
 Now, the third thing you need to do is drying your rocks. You can use a mart and burst them into the sun :). 
 
  • Step 4

Until the rocks are fully dry, you must prepare the items which will help you to disinfect the rock as removing excess dust and dirt isn’t going to do all the job for you.
 
There are two processes by which you can disinfect and sterilize the rocks 
  1. Boiling
  2. Soaking
Boiling
 
Well, boiling porous rocks like lava rocks is not a good recommendation, and it is not that much recommended but it is the best way to disinfect your rocks if you are looking for the most effective way.
 
The boiling process helps to remove all the germs, bacteria and harmful organisms thoroughly. 
Note - Boiling lava rocks is a very sensitive method, you have to be very conscious and focused while you are boiling the rocks, as excessive boiling can result in the rocks to explode and injure you. Anyhow, it will not happen because I know you are not going to cook the rocks. :)
 
How to boil lava rocks?
 
You should the rocks in a fully covered pot and in a submerged condition.
 
Remember not to boil the rocks for more than 25 minutes, otherwise, the rocks may explode.
 
Excessive boiling may result in rock explosion, breaking, or crumbling, so be precautious.
  
After boiling the rocks, don’t just put them directly into the aquarium. You must absorb the excess water from the rocks using a paper towel and cook them for an hour or more if needed. After that, you can add them to your aquarium. 🙂
 
 
Bleaching 
 
Well, this method is not much effective as boiling but still, this is the safest method and you can disinfect the rocks without breaking or scrambling them. This is also the best method for those who are dealing with large sized lava rocks. 
 
If you want to avoid any dangers and explosion associated with the boiling method then this is maybe an ideal method to disinfect the rocks for yours. Certainly, bleaching the lava rocks is a hard task.
 
How to bleach lava rocks?
 
Well, here is where you’ll need a bleach solution. Mix the bleaching solution to water in a ratio of 1:10 or maybe higher, if needed leave them for 24 hours.
 
Use treated water to remove all the bleaching agent traces before adding your rocks to the aquarium. Now you are done with this process.
 
  • Step 5 
 To add the lava rocks in the aquarium, prepare your aquarium by using these three simple tips 🙂


 
  1. To keep the equal distribution of the rocks’ weight, it’s certain to ensure that the surface of your aquarium is flat and will be able to support the rock’s load.
  2. The second tip is to use Styrofoam sheets before you add the rock in your aquarium. It is the most important thing you need to do if your aquarium is made of glass.
  3. Putting the rocks directly into the aquarium may cause some scratches, so it’s better to create or form a layer at the bottom before adding the rocks. 

It seems like you got an idea of how to prepare lava rocks for aquarium.There are few more things that you may need to know before you prepare your first lava rocks for aquarium.

What are the benefits of adding lava rock to your aquarium? 

  • Lava Rocks improves water clarity
 The study says lava rocks in Aquarium help you to have clear water and if you purchased high quality of lava rocks for fish tank then not only it will make your aquarium water clear but also it will release some particles that help in increasing clarity.
 
Lava rocks for aquarium are the best option for those who need clear water.



To Check the hidden benefits of lava rocks in detail- AquaEssentials


 
  • Lava Rocks hold plants
 
The plant is one of the most important elements to enhance and maintain your aquarium as they provide a conducive environment and purify the air for your fish. The rock is going to help you by keeping the plants hold down.
  
  • Rocks Provide Caves
 
Fishes usually like to use the rocks as a shelter and resting place. The lava rocks are very porous and will provide the best possible cave to your fish. The caves are the best shelter and hiding place to fish.
 
 
You won’t need to worry about the aquarium being broken as these rocks are very light.
 
The specially made lave rocks for the aquarium will create an amazing cave to accommodate your fish and will enhance the attractiveness and beauty of the aquarium. 
 
How can you add lava rocks to an aquarium safely?
 
Don’t rub, scratch, or pile the rocks against the glass
 
 
People often make such mistakes when they put the rocks into the aquarium. Never pile the lava rocks in the aquarium against the glass as they are not strong enough to handle the wights of rocks.

 
If excess pressure is exerted to the aquarium’s glass by the rocks, then it may break down. If not, then I can assure you that some scratches will be visible on the glass.
 
You should always put the sand layer before adding the rocks to the aquarium. 
 
  • Make sure to glue the rocks together using silicone


 Piling the rocks will not alone make the aquarium sturdy and guarantee the full security of the glass.
 
Many times, rocks get hit by the fish, thus resulting in a scratch and break in return. So it is very to stick them or glue them using silicone.
 


This is the only way to stop the rocks from falling or moving inside the aquarium, using silicon to glue them is the best and only way.
 
If you are concerned about your fish health, then let me get it clear for you, Silicon will not have any effects on your aquarium pet and is totally harmless to fish.Lava Rocks for aquarium

Things to consider when purchasing lava rocks for aquarium

There is no doubt that lava rocks in the aquarium enhance the beauty and attractiveness of the aquarium.
 
However, when you are out to purchase your lava rocks for the aquarium, there is some points that you must consider and look out for. 


 
These tips will you to purchase the best lava rocks for aquarium possible – 
  
  • Size of the rocks


Well, you should always look for the size of the rocks that suit your aquarium. The size of the rocks must be ideal for the aquarium. So, buy the rocks depending on the size of your aquarium.


 
  • Avoid purchasing lava rocks with sharp edges.
 
As you know, the sharps edge present in the rocks can harm your fish very badly and could be the reason for your aquarium inhabitants’ death.
 
If you have small inhabitants in your aquarium, then it is a must to avoid the sharp edges as they might injure them.
 
Consider buying the lava rocks for aquarium with less sharp edges or no sharp edges to avoid these types of circumstances.


 
  • Look the best quality with less dust and dirt


 It will save you a lot of time when you’ll be cleaning them. You should always choose quality with less durst, as it will provide you an easy and save you a lot of time while you’ll be cleaning your aquarium.
 
Buying the best quality will give you too many benefits in the long run.


 From where should you buy the rocks 
 
Well, you can purchase them from any reputable or reliable store nearby un your town or city.
There is no certain or specific place where you can buy the lava rocks.
 
Although you can buy them online too, from the most trusted eCommerce store – Amazon and enjoy the best quality rocks.

Avoid going for the cheap quality only because of less pricey. The quality of the lava rocks for aquarium should never be compromised if it is going to affect your fish health

Does lava rocks in the aquarium affect its water quality?

No, lava rocks in an aquarium do not impact its water quality. Although, they do increase the clarity of water indirectly.
 
The red ones are the most common type and they don’t improve the aquarium condition directly, but they do encourage the BB to grow, which helps to increase the clarity and keep the water clean.
 
However, adding prepared rocks can result in water contamination.
 
The lava rocks should be prepared and disinfected before you add it to your aquarium. Adding lava rocks in the fish tank will definitely enhance your aquarium beauty and will provide a home-like environment to your aquarium inhabitants.
 
So, adding lava rocks is definitely going to help you and your aquarium in many ways

FAQ

Is BBQ lava rock safe for aquariums?

It totally depends on the quality of the BBQ lava rocks. The smaller ones can be used for aquariums. The smaller, the better because large rocks can damage the glass of the aquarium. The BBQ lava rocks in an aquarium can be used under the gravels as well as a filter.

Can you put lava rocks in an aquarium?

Yes, this is the best thing you’ll do for your fish and aquarium as it will help you and your aquarium in many ways. Lava rocks in the aquarium enhance the beauty and attractiveness of the aquarium and make your aquarium, visually more appealing. It will also help in increasing the clarity of the water. But the rocks should be prepared, and disinfected before you add them to your aquarium.

Do You need to prepare lava rocks before putting them in an aquarium?

YES, before you add the lava rocks in the aquarium, it’s very important to prepare them because unprepared lava rocks for aquarium can cause water contamination. This guide is to highlights all the possible ways on how to prepare lava rocks for the aquarium. I have shared five points that you can follow and prepare your lava rocks for

Conclusion

So, what we learn today is lava rocks for aquariums are essential when it comes to providing an attractive and conducive environment to your aquarium inhabitants. Buying the best quality will ensure your pet’s safety as well as make you happy.  



By following the above, 5 simple steps, you can easily clean, prepare and disinfect your lava rocks for the aquarium in a few hours without any hassles and complications.

If you are looking for the best disinfectant, you may try the boiling method. However, the other method ” beaching ” is also available, if you want to avoid the danger that comes with the boiling process.      



I hope You got an idea on how to prepare lava rocks for an aquarium  If, you find this post helpful, you may want to visit our Homepage to find some more interesting & helpful knowledge.