setting up a malawi rock

[dakora]

i was thinking of getting some live rock online, but the guy said i gotta boil it first to kill all the stuff on it. seems weird though - if dead live rock is fine to use, doesn't that mean most types of rock could work? i really want to get a bunch of caves set up before i swap out my peacocks for yellow labs. or can you even keep yellow labs with peacocks? got no idea how to set up the rocks so they don't fall over, or what type of rock is best to use.

[luminia9]

i was thinking of getting some live rock online, but the guy said i gotta boil it first to kill all the stuff on it. seems weird though - if dead live rock is fine to use, doesn't that mean most types of rock could work? i really want to get a bunch of caves set up before i swap out my peacocks for yellow labs. or can you even keep yellow labs with peacocks? got no idea how to set up the rocks so they don't fall over, or what type of rock is best to use.

I've found yellow labs to be pretty versatile, I've kept them with quite aggressive Africans and they've done just fine. I've currently got a tank with a hap peacock and four labs, they seem to get along great and the labs really thrive in that environment.

[waveborn]

For a freshwater setup, I'd definitely recommend base rock or Texas Holey Rock if you can find it in your area. The live rock you're considering will essentially become dead rock once it's in your tank, but that's not necessarily a problem - it's just a matter of whether you're willing to pay the premium price for flourwater live rock. As for compatibility, yellow labs tend to get along with most other fish, and they're rarely the ones starting trouble. That being said, it's always a good idea to keep a close eye on your stock, as you never know when you might have a fish that likes to break the mold.

[dakora]

Cheers, thanks for the info. The other fish seem to get on alright with the peacocks, but I'm not entirely sure what they are as I got them off someone who had no idea. I'll have a look for some Texas Holey Rock, sounds like the way to go. Thanks again.