Rocks or No Rocks?

[chopinrockwood]

I am not sure if this is in the right section or not.
I am in the middle of a new tank build as my last tank full of African Cichlids were all killed when I was without power for 8 days during Christmas.
What do you think would look better in my tank? Rocks or bare sand? (there is no sand in the picture)
Thanks.

 

[malfist]

I know this is a bit off topic, but I absolutely love that background. How did you make it?

On topic, I'd go without rocks, but that's just my opinion. The fish might like them.

 

[chopinrockwood]

No problem, thanks. I found a look that I wanted and copied it with the Styrofoam formed into "rocks" and covered it about 5 coats of ready mix cement. I tinted the last 3 coats with a dark cement pigment. There are lots of youtube how to videos that you should check out also.
The more I look at it the more I like the rocks. It breaks the bottom up and even if they hide They will still be seen.

 

[DragonFish71]

African cichlids love rocks, at least the mbunas do, hence the name. Rocks are needs for territory/housing reasons. They pick out their turf and call it home.

 

[chopinrockwood]

Good advice. I had about 150-175lbs of the lace rock that looked good with just the rocks but I could never see all the fish a they would hide in all the caves. The new background has about 10 caves carved in behind the rocks. I also don't want to cover it up with rocks. A couple are fine I would think so they would feel safe and I can still see them.