sand in freshwater tank

[BlokX]

what is some cheap, white, fish-friendly sand i can put in my freshwater tank? it's time to revamp it a little. i have just my Jack Dempsey in there now and the black gravel doesn't show him off well enough.

i've heard that sandbox sand that you would use for a childs sandbox will work.

any suggestions? i'm trying not to spend a lot of cash in an aquaria store.

 

[Anonymous]

SouthDown sand from home depot will work.

 

[Anonymous]

I use silica play sand. southdown and other calcium carbonate based sands would raise ph which may be what the jack needs anyway.

 

[Anonymous]

SouthDown sand from home depot will work.

Won't it just dissolve in fresh water?

 

[Anonymous]

SouthDown sand from home depot will work.

Won't it just dissolve in fresh water?

Yep at least from what I understand. But I think the dissolving stops when the ph rises. Have heard that is the reason something similiar is used in cichlid tanks.

ref: http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/c ... trates.php

Why use Eco-Complete™ for African Cichlids? First of all, it's minerologically complete. This substrate contains Aragonite, making it a perfect African cichlid substrate. Aragonite, which is unique to just CaribSea substrates, maintains the high pH African Cichlids need without the constant addition of chemicals. When the pH in your aquarium falls below 8.2, Aragonite snaps into action, breaking down into calcium (great for water hardness), carbonate (your buffer), and various beneficial trace elements like Magnesium. Your pH comes back up and the tank stays healthy, all without ever adding a single chemical. Other types of calcium carbonate don't react until the pH is in the mid 7's. In fact, Aragonite holds the highest pH of any gravel or sand, and has up to 30 times the buffering capacity of Dolomite, Calcite ("crushed corals"), or Oyster shell! Plus, unlike ordinary substrates, Aragonite never needs replacement, buffering automatically for the life of an aquarium. Eco-Complete™ for African Cichlids has a unique composition that re-creates the African Rift Lake environment in your aquarium.

 

[Anonymous]

ahhhhh I see. So Jack Dempseys like hard water?

 

[Anonymous]

ahhhhh I see. So Jack Dempseys like hard water?

I give up do they? if not then better use silica play sand or something else as a substrait.

 

[Anonymous]

I was just asking, I have no idea.

 

[Anonymous]

I believe they do..I have hard water and keep a Jack Dempsey..Doesnt seem to mind and I see no ill effects.....But i believe most cichlids like hard water considering their natural habitats...

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah , I think they like hard water fine. I would actually expect most neotropical species to like soft water, but I think these guys come from coastal mexico, which might explain it.

 

[Anonymous]

Jacks can take any type of water within reason. The southdown will buffer the water some which is good for the messy feeders like JD's. The water will be a little more stable. IMO
Andy

 

[Anonymous]

Peeps, cichlids like their water warm and wet. That's about as complicated as it gets. Beyond that it's a non-issue, believe me. ESPECIALLY when speaking of hardy species such as the Dempsey. Really, you'd have to be an idiot to kill one. Even the cichlids out of the rift lakes can take a wide variety of water conditions, including wild specimens right out of the lake. Exceptions do exist, Tropheus and Discus come to mind. By a large however, you needn't worry about water paremeters within reason.


Jim

 

[gpodio]

Their natural waters are neutral to slightly acidic, but they will adapt to a wide variety as already mentioned. You'd be best to try southdown and tap water in a separate container to see at what point the sand stops releasing calcium, you may unnecessarily go quite a bit over neutral with it. What is your tap water KH and GH? Most people have enough of both from their tap water to keep a neutral PH. If that's the case, the stability during water changes would be far better for the fish than the fluctuations that would occur if using southdown sand.

African cichlid tanks usually use southdown or similar as they need very hard waters, but central american cichlids are often from neutral to acidic waters.

Giancarlo

 

[Anonymous]

that's what I though also. I even heard of one public aquarium that used tap for reef tanks but ro/di for the cichlids used to the pure mountain streams and the like.

To me there should be no reason to test. southdown being calcium carbonate should bring the PH right up to 8.2 just as the above quote I provided and just as happens in our salt tanks and with my oyster shells. the only thing that would preven that would be an extreme build up of carbon dioxide.

 

[skylsdale]

Actually, for FW tanks, pool filter sand actually works better--its shape helps prevents compaction.

 

[hillbilly]

I got some quartz sand that is used for sandblasting. They had 2 or 3 different particle sizes. I got the sand that was the most course. Very clean stuff, and only $8.50 for a 100lb. bag! I plan on using this stuff for my new planted discus tank. I think it'll look cool in there with the swords and driftwood. Now, I just need to find the time to build the tank stand. I need to do it soon, the fish need more room.

 

[Anonymous]

Peeps, cichlids like their water warm and wet. That's about as complicated as it gets. Beyond that it's a non-issue, believe me. ESPECIALLY when speaking of hardy species such as the Dempsey. Really, you'd have to be an idiot to kill one. Even the cichlids out of the rift lakes can take a wide variety of water conditions, including wild specimens right out of the lake. Exceptions do exist, Tropheus and Discus come to mind. By a large however, you needn't worry about water paremeters within reason.
Jim

OH, I know just who should have one. My neighbor cleans his fishtank by dumping the whole thing out on the lawn, goldfish and all. He then scrubs the tank, brings it inside, and refills it with ice cold water from the garden hose. He then plops in the (giant) goldfish who has been waiting patiently on the lawn. He says it swims around upside down for a while, but always recovers...

 

[Anonymous]

SouthDown sand from home depot will work.

Won't it just dissolve in fresh water?

Yep at least from what I understand. But I think the dissolving stops when the ph rises. Have heard that is the reason something similiar is used in cichlid tanks.

ref: http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/c ... trates.php

Why use Eco-Complete™ for African Cichlids? First of all, it's minerologically complete. This substrate contains Aragonite, making it a perfect African cichlid substrate. Aragonite, which is unique to just CaribSea substrates, maintains the high pH African Cichlids need without the constant addition of chemicals. When the pH in your aquarium falls below 8.2, Aragonite snaps into action, breaking down into calcium (great for water hardness), carbonate (your buffer), and various beneficial trace elements like Magnesium. Your pH comes back up and the tank stays healthy, all without ever adding a single chemical. Other types of calcium carbonate don't react until the pH is in the mid 7's. In fact, Aragonite holds the highest pH of any gravel or sand, and has up to 30 times the buffering capacity of Dolomite, Calcite ("crushed corals"), or Oyster shell! Plus, unlike ordinary substrates, Aragonite never needs replacement, buffering automatically for the life of an aquarium. Eco-Complete™ for African Cichlids has a unique composition that re-creates the African Rift Lake environment in your aquarium.

more quotes of other's misinformation to mislead others w/no personal responsibilty, eh? :roll:


the water must reach 7.6 (app) and below, to dissolve any substrate mentioned above, not 'below 8.2', and the amount of buffering capacity has nothing to do with the pH point at which the calcium can be dissolved, it's still 7.6


there is no really good reason to use substrate as a buffer, per se-especially when dealing with higher desired pH values.

 

[Anonymous]

I would be very interested in seeing your information. After all your 7.6 agrees with what was posted. So you must have gotten that from someplace.

 

[Anonymous]

I would be very interested in seeing your information. After all your 7.6 agrees with what was posted. So you must have gotten that from someplace.

first, just tell me how aragonite 'snaps into action at a pH of 8.2' :lol:

keep answering a challenge to you from me w/a challenge to me, and you'll find yourself very quickly out of your league, bubbah :wink:

if you have no genuine info of your own, why not just keep quiet? you'll be doing those who know no better a HUGE favor