Tarracotta...

[LittleBlueFishlets]

PVC pipe is good, too.

[ChoclateBetta]

If your going for natural look cichlid stones are good.

[Juicebox]

ive got a terra cotta pot in a 5 gallon, i also have no pots in my 14 gallon, my ph in the 14 is 7,2 and my ph in the 5 gallon with the terracotta pot is 6.2

im goin to take the pot out and put it in the 14 gallon,then ill do a water change and the next day ill check ph in both tanks again, i think it may be the pot affecting the ph

[LittleBlueFishlets]

Originally Posted by Juicebox

ive got a terra cotta pot in a 5 gallon, i also have no pots in my 14 gallon, my ph in the 14 is 7,2 and my ph in the 5 gallon with the terracotta pot is 6.2

im goin to take the pot out and put it in the 14 gallon,then ill do a water change and the next day ill check ph in both tanks again, i think it may be the pot affecting the ph

So you think the pot is lowering the pH? Please let us know what you find out. I'm curious to see your results!

I would have expected it to either not affect pH at all, or to raise it *if* the pot contained an additive like lime or chalk. Not sure what could be in there that would *lower* the pH though. Hm, I'm going to search the internet to see what I can find out.... (So much other work that needs to get done, and yet I just want to look at fish-related things. LOL)

[ChoclateBetta]

I would make sure the pots are clean of chemicals.

[Bsalem05]

Originally Posted by ChoclateBetta

If your going for natural look cichlid stones are good.

I like those.. but it will all depend on my budget! lol

[ChoclateBetta]

I dont know how much they cost. Craiglist/Ebay may have cheaper.

[babystarz]

I picked up some tiny terra cotta pots at Lowe's and have them in two of my tanks. After ~2 months I haven't had any issues. They seem inert to me.

[ChoclateBetta]

I prefer things like lava rock.