Coral In External Filter

[kiriyama]

I am wanting to add crushed coral to the bottom basket of my external filter, would it be crushed coral sand or crushed coral gravel? Also what do I use for a pouch to keep it in, I have heard of people using tights or stockings ? Would the material not just rot or chemicals or dye get into the water?
Any info greatfully received

 

[AdAndrews]

I am wanting to add crushed coral to the bottom basket of my external filter, would it be crushed coral sand or crushed coral gravel? Also what do I use for a pouch to keep it in, I have heard of people using tights or stockings ? Would the material not just rot or chemicals or dye get into the water?
Any info greatfully received

the cheaper way of doing it, is to go to your lfs, pick up a piece of ocean rock for a few quid, about a handful sized piece, get home and smash it into pieces that are the same size as your biological media(bio rings), no need for a bag, cheaper way, ive done this and it works.

other than that you would need coral gravel, and stick it in an old pair of womens tights...

 

[dave_oddballs]

as adandrews said people do use tights as opposed to media bags, i find crushed coral to be cheaper than ocean rock, so i have it in my filter in a media bag. if as mentioned crushing ocean roc will work out cheaper for you than do that, just crushed coral is cheaper for me! and works in highering the ph and helping stabilise it.

 

[kiriyama]

Cheers guys, I have some Ocean Rock that I'm no longer using so I'll put that in instead of the "ceramic noodles", anyways I think the Mrs would worry if I started to pilfer her undies lol.
Are you still setting up Tanginyika Dave, loved the pic. of that Hillstream loach, lovely, cheers again foks, I'm off to get a hammer

 

[dave_oddballs]

its done mate, got that carib-sea african cichlid substrate and straight away the ph went to 8.0 and over a couple of days settled at about 8.5, the filter was well matured anyway so nothing needed there.
in it are 6 Lamprologus Brichardi approx 2", 1 Altolamprologus Calvus gold approx 1", 1 Lamprologus Tretacephaleus approx 2", 1 Tropheus Moorii kaiser approx 1", 2 Cyprichromis Leptosoma (male and female) approx 2.5-3", 1 Neolamprologus Sexfasciatus approx 2.5-3" and 2 Labidochromis Caeruleus approx 1.5", i know the yellow labs are malawi but they are peaceful and add a bit of colour, there is one male and one female.
all seem happy and are loving tetra prima!
at first the brichardi tried to boss them all around, as they do, but the Tretacephaleus pushed its way in and claimed his little spot! all doing well!
well, i probably wouldn't go searching through the draws for ladies stockings either, i always buy the propper media bags but thats just me, plenty of people use tights!

she wants to get some multi's and a couple of julidochromis, don't know which species yet but probably dickfeldi, how are yours getting on?
why are you wanting to put the coral or rock in your filter anyway? just to keep the ph right?

 

[kiriyama]

Yeah just to set the pH, changing all the substrae, nothing wrong with it just don't like it. Calvus ad Kaiser are cracking fish, the Yellow labs always look col and I'm sure a few people have them in there Tang tanks , good to see you got the Leptosoma then, very jealous but good choice, don't know how the multis would fare against the Brichardis etc , might stress them to much, I only have 1 Dickfeldi and (I think SHE)is very shy, the mlti are a bt hard on her lately, was tempted with a black calvus but tank too small and it ould maybe bllythe mutis, if you fancy Julidochromis thogh why not check out thse bad boys ?

http/tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/stores_productsinfo.asp?store=54&prod=2101

Sorry, how many typos in there ? Batteries in keyboard need replaced, or is it the operator???

 

[drobbyb]

For using crushed coral in your filter, check out the link in my signature.

 

[dave_oddballs]

must be operator error... lol

yeah i don't think multi's will fare up too well, im working on trying to find something more suitable to take her interest, there are other similar shell dwellers that would fare up a bit better, its just finding them at a reasonable price.
i was looking at the regani at maidenhead aquatics on sunday, nice fish, will look into them.
she really likes the leleupi too so looking into them at the moment, the tank is well over filtered and lots of ocean rock so should be ok being a little over stocked, i've read it works better over stocking, from an aggression point of view.
how big is your tank?
the calvus are gorgeous fish aren't they, this one we have is only about an inch and just white with black stripes but the gold colour is coming through, they are funny looking, just looks like a big head and mouth with a tail attached! ha

 

[AdAndrews]

got any pics, Dave?

 

[dave_oddballs]

will try and get some, its my girlfriends tank you see, i feel awkward sat in her living room taking pictures of the fish tank! they all probably think im weird! ha even after 3 years!
i will try though, most of the fish come out when feeding so got over their shyness pretty quick, some are still a little skittish but i suppose that takes time for them to get used to it.
the ocean rock covers half the tank as we left a clearing for shells but going to try and steer her away or maybe get some larger shell welling species, not sure yet, so might get more rock to fill it up a bit more!

oh kiriyama, i remembered in the external filter on the tanganyikan tank, the crushed coral is just loose in one of the media trays so i didn't use any sort of bag/stockings for that one. i think i mixed them in with some of them bio rock things, will check next time i clean it.
this carib-sea eco complete african substrate stuff we got though is brilliant, ph went straight from about 6.8 to 8.2 in one day and is very stable at that, the crushed coral was already in the filter but every little helps, on the bag the substrate came in says it will constantly keep the ph stable and add trace minerals throughout the life of the aquarium, but we have this kent marine stuff made for rift vally cichlids, it was about £8.60 but will last 50 weeks so is not bad.

 

[kiriyama]

Have found rift tonic and tanganyika buffer on line, still not sure about a purchase yet, if you are after a shell dweller , check out Neolamprologus Caudopunctatus, technically a rock dweller or cave dweller , I had one that constantly burrowed under 2 large clam shells, I'm sure it would use Tonna shells or even Murex, always patrolled all levels of tank with yellow fin erect, feisty little thing too, gave the multis a hard time so had to rehome him
Lelupi or Lemon Cichlid are cracking but maybe a bit boisterous for some of his tankmates, Caudo is a good shout
http/tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/stores_productsinfo.asp?store=54&prod=789

 

[dave_oddballs]

them Caudopunctatus are nice, will look into them, wouldn't pay a tenner for them though.
all tanganyikans seem to be steeply priced as opposed to malawi's don't they!
the most expensive one what we got was the tropheus which was meant to be £15 but he gave us it for £12, but i know they aren't cheap. we got the 6 brichardi for £27 so £4.50 each which i thought was ok, the Tretacephaleus, Sexfasciatus and calvus were a tenner each and the sardines were £15 for the pair.
got some pictures but they are on my phone and this site doesn't like my phone for some reason! i will try get some on later.

i got told i might not need the buffer stuff but it was kent marine which i believe are good, it helps stabilise ph and add trace mineraly weekly and i worked out at 5ml per week as it says for our tank ir will last 50 weeks so 17 pence a week is worth a go i reckan!

 

[dave_oddballs]

put some pics up of the tanganyikan set up in the pictures area, in my girlfriends tanganyikan or something! let me know what you think!

 

[kiriyama]

http/www.reservestockcichlids.com/product.php?productid=139&cat=6&page=1
Check out Yellow Sand Cichlid, just thought you guys might be interested , xenotilapia flavipinnis gombi
Just of to have a nosey at your pics now

 

[drobbyb]

Oh wow! What a nice fish.