Substrate ?

[bb20]

Hey everyone,
Can you use coral sand in a freshwater tank containing only guppies or other livebearers or would you suggest another type of floor covering. Thanks

 

[drobbyb]

It will raise your pH. Coral sand (and other similar substrates) are mostly used in marine and african rift lake cichlid tanks. Depending on what pH you currently have, it could be a good choice.

 

[bb20]

where i live the water is quite soft, becuase i have being reading that guppies and the other livebearers like water hard, but i guess i could give it a try and see how the water's pH rises while the tank is cycling, also another reason why i want to use it is that i have some left that i did not put in my marine tank, so dont see the point in wastes it, if i can use to my advantage with setting up the new tank and that is why i was asking if it would be ok to use for a guppy/livebearer only setup.

thanks for the info drobbyb

 

[drobbyb]

You could be right about the livebearers liking hard water. If that is the case, then it would be an excellent choice.

 

[OldMan47]

The common livebearers like guppies, swords, mollies and platies do better with a pH above 7 but not above 8 and reasonably hard water. I don't know many that like liquid concrete but most do well with the harder water.