Smelly Substrate

[geno8701]

I have an 125 gal SA cichlid, with a sandy bottom. The tank has pet shop smell that has my front room smelling like PetsMart, and was not there when I had the tank stocked with Africans. I thought maybe the africans keeped the sand aerated with all there digging. My SA do not participate in digging. Is that the reason, or is it the different kind of fish? This is really motivating me to transition to gravel. I do an weekly 25% water change faithfully. :help:

[MySpace Mike]

I recommend gravel for the sa/ca cichlids. My sa/ca cichlids dig in my 55g tank all the time, i have a blue/black gravel bed in it. Most sa/ca cichlids wont dig in the sand because it's to fine, sa/ca cichlids prefer rocks/gravel that they can pick up and move around with their mouths, as sand is to grainy.

[geno8701]

Hey, thanx man.

[MySpace Mike]

no problem

[n0zqh]

Sounds like it is time to put new carbon in the filter.

[Star_Rider]

make sure you siphon the sand well

I added MTS(malaysaian trumpet snails) to my sand they keep the substrate clean and help turn the substrate as they dig into it.