How do I handle lava rocks?

Hi all, had just bought 1kg of lava rocks and would like to ask some questions before doing something to it.

How long should we boil the lava rocks after the initial cleaning of dust? I heard it will 'explode' if you put into boiling water for too long. Mines average 2-3 cm in sizes.

I am intending to do some DIY caves & arc and had seen some scapers using cotton or cigarette butt filter as filler to glue them in place. Some even says just use the silicone you use for tank to stick while others says commercial gel type superglue (no filter filler) or liquid superglue (with filler) will do. How do you guys suggest glueing it?

Lastly, should I finish the cleaning process first before glueing them or otherwise?

Hope to hear your answers.

 

Do NOT boil this type of rock! Not like they will explode, but they will surely crack.
You can boil dense ones like granite or quartz, but porous rocks like pumice (what's mostly sold as lava rock) or limestones you can just rinse in cold water.

 

Ahh I see. So how about sticking them? Does normal commercial superglue do the trick?

 

I don't glue anything in my tanks and I am not an aquascaper, so I can't answer your question.

 

I don’t claim to be an aquascaper but I have used aquarium silicone and superglue with wool packing on various projects in aquariums..
For Lava rock I would use the silicone even if it’s slow to dry it’s going to get a better grip on the rough surface.

I don’t know what you think you need to clean off the rocks? But pouring a couple of jugs of boiling water on it outside on concrete seems like enough to kill most things ?

 

I never used lava rock but for drift wool I drill holes and then use stiff air line to pin them together. Easy to take apart and clean if needed.

Use a masonry bit like this: https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW520...t=&hvlocphy=9015351&hvtargid=pla-433912505984

 

Don’t boil them, there’s no need. A rinse and a nail brush works just fine. I tried the safe ( cyanoacrylate) super glue , didn’t work. It did work with a few tries with filter floss and cotton wool. After I’d rinsed my rock it took a day at least to fully dry before I could start gluing. What fish are you planning to keep in the tank?

 

Check your local rockyard. Lava rocks are often sold in big chunks, which would likely eliminate the need to glue smaller pieces together.
Lava rock can also be bought online. Some have natural holes, others have been drilled.
IMO, stacking & leaning rock is a far better way to go.

 

Hi all, had just bought 1kg of lava rocks and would like to ask some questions before doing something to it.

How long should we boil the lava rocks after the initial cleaning of dust? I heard it will 'explode' if you put into boiling water for too long. Mines average 2-3 cm in sizes.

I am intending to do some DIY caves & arc and had seen some scapers using cotton or cigarette butt filter as filler to glue them in place. Some even says just use the silicone you use for tank to stick while others says commercial gel type superglue (no filter filler) or liquid superglue (with filler) will do. How do you guys suggest glueing it?

Lastly, should I finish the cleaning process first before glueing them or otherwise?

Hope to hear your answers.

Hi you can just rinse them out in a bucket of hot water to get that extra dust or dirt out...but never boil them, and then after that they should be good to go.They are very pourus rocks and allow for a vast surface area for BB.

 

But pouring a couple of jugs of boiling water on it outside on concrete seems like enough to kill most things ?

Well most of the articles that I've searched had the concept of boiling it to kill the bacteria, thus I'm wondering if it's true or not.

Don’t boil them, there’s no need. A rinse and a nail brush works just fine. I tried the safe ( cyanoacrylate) super glue , didn’t work. It did work with a few tries with filter floss and cotton wool. After I’d rinsed my rock it took a day at least to fully dry before I could start gluing. What fish are you planning to keep in the tank?

Thanks for your valuable feedback. I'm upgrading the skirt tetras tank to 15g and possibly a new pair of honey gourami once everything settles down.

Check your local rockyard. Lava rocks are often sold in big chunks, which would likely eliminate the need to glue smaller pieces together.
Lava rock can also be bought online.
IMO, stacking & leaning rock is a far better way to go.

Yeah I have went to several LFS and lava rocks are hard to identify as they tend to mix all the rocks without categorization. The online platform is definitely a way, hopefully I can get a few pieces.

I never used lava rock but for drift wool I drill holes and then use stiff air line to pin them together. Easy to take apart and clean if needed.

Great idea!! Thats something I never thought of! I've been using toothbrush to clean them all these while.

 

I prefer stacking too as another has said , I just couldn’t get the shape I wanted so glued. I only asked stocking as I’ve had a Cory stuck inside one of these rocks in one of the holes ! I know others have had similar issues with different fish

 

I gave mine a rinse in hot water (not quite boiling)
For about 10 seconds then soaked it in room temp water for 10 minutes before giving it a final rinse in cold. Silicone or cyanoacrylate super glue would work fine, as for a filler to glue it to, I'm not super experienced with that.

 

I prefer stacking too as another has said , I just couldn’t get the shape I wanted so glued. I only asked stocking as I’ve had a Cory stuck inside one of these rocks in one of the holes ! I know others have had similar issues with different fish

Curiosity of fishes really puts them in danger, I was actually planning to have them, really need to fill up even the smallest gap. I do agree stacking and leaning is much more safer, the glueing part is for extra safety

 

I'd be careful with the stacking method. If it tips over and hits the glass that may not end well.

I remember using this type of epoxy stick quite a while ago:

INSTANT OCEAN HoldFast Epoxy Stick for Fish & Reef Aquariums, 4.4-oz tube - Chewy.com

 

Curiosity of fishes really puts them in danger, I was actually planning to have them, really need to fill up even the smallest gap. I do agree stacking and leaning is much more safer, the glueing part is for extra safety

Apart from stacking what do you plan to have the rocks leaning against?I ask this because you never want to have rock formations leaning against the glass,and of course your fishes safery. I'm not saying that is what you're plans are but I was just suggesting.I learned the hard way!!!

 

Apart from stacking what do you plan to have the rocks leaning against?

Thanks for your concern, I'm not planning a bare tank with rocks and driftwood. I'll be putting in soil on the base and topped it with gravel. By then the decors will be buried and will hold properly

 

I just rinse rocks under hot water in the sink. Into the tank after that.

 

I just rinse rocks under hot water in the sink. Into the tank after that.

Yeap, I rinsed it under hot water. Waiting to dry so I can start piecing it together by glueing it

 

Well most of the articles that I've searched had the concept of boiling it to kill the bacteria, thus I'm wondering if it's true or not.

The chances of whatever bacteria on your dry rocks being dangerous to fish is rather low. If you pulled this rock out of another tank with sick fish or a body of water with fish then it might be worth trying to clean it better than rinsing off the dirt but sterile is overkill for rocks.

 

Yeap, I rinsed it under hot water. Waiting to dry so I can start piecing it together by glueing it

I wouldn't glue it. I'm never difficult with the scape. Always tweaking something, glue takes that ability away. You could break it, but I suggest song a balancing act.

 

I just rinse rocks under hot water in the sink. Into the tank after that.

Pretty much!!!