Stone
Texas Holey Rock
Also called holey limestone, honeycomb limestone
By Mike Elmira
TL;DR, Texas Holey Rock
Texas holey rock is pale, cream-coloured limestone riddled with large smooth holes. Because it is limestone, it strongly raises pH and hardness, which is the whole point in the tanks it is made for: African cichlid and hard-water setups that want that buffered, alkaline water. In a soft-water planted or shrimp tank it is the wrong tool, since it pushes chemistry hard in the opposite direction.
What it looks like
Off-white to cream stone with big rounded holes and tunnels bored through it, light and chalky.
What it does to your water
Strongly calcareous. It raises pH and hardness noticeably and buffers the water alkaline, ideal for African cichlids and hard-water tanks, wrong for soft-water scapes.
How to prepare it
Scrub and rinse well. No soaking needed.
Using it in a scape
A staple of African cichlid tanks, where the holes double as territories and hiding spots. Its buffering is a feature there, not a bug.
Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
Does Texas holey rock raise pH?
Strongly, yes. It is limestone, so it lifts pH and hardness and holds the water alkaline. That suits African cichlids and hard-water tanks, but not soft-water planted or shrimp setups.