calcium carbonate sand???

L

LiveMermaid07

Bloody Mary. As in, hand me one.
Jul 7, 2009
430
0
16
Lost & Confused
Real Name
Can't Remember...
Would hermit crab or reptile sand be bad for the aquarium?
It's calcium carbonate.

(carbonate makes me picture it just fizzing right out like soda lol)
 
It's fine if you want to maintain hard alkaline conditions like for Africans, Livebearers or the like.
 
I don't need hard, but my water is very soft (generally 25 - 75 using jungle test strips)
 
What does your pH normally run in your tank?
 
this one runs 6 - 6.4
 
I choose a different substrate; pool filter sand, Estes marine sand, small gravel. I want more control than a pH raising sand would allow. I keep a very small amount of crushed coral in my filters to prevent pH crashes, I have very soft water. Is it just for looks?
 
Just trying to find something in my price range and that I can get immediately. I've already been 'ordered' to get rid of all my fish, but I want to try one or two more things to get rid of the smell first. I have a couple plans, both involve new substrate, either partial or all. If only partial, then the petsmart here had some crab and reptile sand on clearance. Thus the inquiry.
(I tried playsand last year, even with stiring, and mts and khulies it compacts to much.
 
Smell??? Even fine PFS I vacuum. My kuhlis & corys don't dig much at all...TMS, black or white, is like $20 for 20lbs at the "marts". Pool sand ~$10 for 50lbs. Peace River & Eco ~$20/15lbs. Do you have carbon, it'll remove temporary smells, live plants can help...so can more water changes...
 
fishorama said:
Smell??? Even fine PFS I vacuum. My kuhlis & corys don't dig much at all...TMS, black or white, is like $20 for 20lbs at the "marts". Pool sand ~$10 for 50lbs. Peace River & Eco ~$20/15lbs. Do you have carbon, it'll remove temporary smells, live plants can help...so can more water changes...
Click to expand...

I've been battling this for months.
I vacuum, I change carbon frequently, I change water as often as possible (I can only run water certain hours), about 2 or 4 times a week. I think it is getting better (but the landlady has a 'bloodhound' nose and says it still smells up stairs. :/ I have to stick my head in the tank to smell anything), just not better fast enough.
I've been told I have to kill or get rid of my fish (as if they would kill their extra and smelly cats :P ) so changing out the substrate is a last ditch effort.
I hate that it's going to get rid of all the root tabs I just added a few weeks ago, I can't get anymore, shoot.
 
some of plants were just rooting too
(meant to write that on last post lol)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom