What is Seiryu Rock?

Seiryu Rock (also called Azure Dragon Stone) is a highly sought-after aquascaping stone originally from Japan. It’s prized for its dramatic texture, grey-blue hue, and white mineral veins, giving it a rugged, natural look that mimics mountain cliffs.

🔍 Key Features

• Color: Blue-grey to dark grey, often with white calcite veins

• Texture: Jagged, craggy, with sharp angles and natural erosion

• Weight: Dense and heavy

• Origin: Japan (true Seiryu), though similar types are now sourced globally

🐠 Aquarium Use

Seiryu Rocks are commonly used in:

• Nature-style aquascapes (inspired by Takashi Amano)

• Iwagumi layouts (minimalist rock-only layouts with carpet plants)

• Shrimp tanks & planted aquariums

🌱 Compatibility

• Works well with carpeting plants like:

  • Hemianthus callitrichoides (Dwarf Baby Tears)

  • Eleocharis (Hair Grass)

  • Marsilea hirsuta

• Pairs beautifully with mosses like Riccardia, Christmas Moss, or Java Moss tucked into crevices

⚠️ Important Considerations

• Raises pH & KH: Seiryu is calcium carbonate-based, which can harden water over time.

  • 🧪 Use in tanks with hardy fish or adjust with RO water or buffering substrate

• Edges can be sharp: File or place carefully to avoid harming fish like bottom dwellers or shrimp

🧼 Preparation Before Use

1. Rinse thoroughly under running water

2. Scrub with a brush to remove dust/debris

3. Optional: Soak in RO water to pre-leach minerals (especially in soft water tanks)

🎨 Aquascaping Tips

• Use odd numbers (e.g., 3, 5 rocks) for natural balance

• Create focal points with large “main stones”

• Tilt rocks slightly to mimic nature and avoid flat alignment

• Combine with driftwood or roots for contrast

✅ Pros

• Stunning natural look

• Long-lasting and inert (besides mineral leaching)

• Widely available in various sizes

❌ Cons

• Increases hardness/pH (not ideal for all setups)

• Heavy

• Can be expensive if true Japanese Seiryu