Is Coral Sand Worth Using?

[locust267]

Hi, I've just put some Argos playsand into tank and LFS has advised to mix in some coral sand to keep water hard as I plan on keeping cichlids?

Is it worth doing?


Vicki

 

[MissTracy]

Have you tested your PH?
I use CaribSea Aragamax Select Aragonite to raise my PH.

 

[bullit]

depends what your tap water reads as to whether youd need it?, though if your stock is gonna come from a local fish shop, i doubt they will be kept any different as to any other fish for sale. Coral sand wont get algae on it though

 

[fishprotector]

It does raise the PH, but according to my LFS only up to between 7.5 and 8. I suppose it depends on what kind of Cichlids you wish to keep. If it is Tangs then you may want a different kind of buffer.

 

[doresy]

I assume you are considering 'Old World' (ie African and not South American)) Cichlids? If so then adding coral sand would be a bonus along with rocks of course. I personally use coral gravel without sand although the gravel produces it's own sand over time as in the wild.

 

[fishprotector]

Another way to do it is to keep 'bags' of coral sand in your external filter. Make these bags using the feet from stockings and just fill them with the coral sand / gravel and tie a knot. I have two of these in my 305 on my Tang tank.

 

[locust267]

Another way to do it is to keep 'bags' of coral sand in your external filter. Make these bags using the feet from stockings and just fill them with the coral sand / gravel and tie a knot. I have two of these in my 305 on my Tang tank.

Thanks for replies

I haven't tested water again lately (just cleaned out tank today and starting cycle again on Monday), although from what I remember before the ph was always fairly high and we do have really hard water here in Bournemouth. It looks like I may be better off getting a small bag and making up some filter bags as suggested above?

*I was hoping to go for Malawis

 

[MissTracy]

I have small pebbles in my tank, our water is hard to start with. I then just bought 2 bags of the CaribSea Aragamax Select Aragonite and put it on top of my gravel to boost it a little more. My ph is at 8.0

I took a lot of rock and used aquarium sylicone and made a lot of caves.

 

[bullit]

You could do with testing your GH (general hardness). If that is good then you can settle for a lower ph. Your ph doesnt have to be really high to have hard water.