Substrate for Tanganyikan tank

Skittyfish

Skittyfish

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Jan 8, 2003
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What type of sand do you use in your Tanganyikan tanks?

I am planning on shell dwellers, but I need a substrate and am having a hard time finding it around here. I did find a 40 pound bag of live crushed aragonite sand(?) for $43. I thought that was a bit much since I only need 20 pounds at the most for a 10 gallon tank.
Please, any help is needed.
 
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The only sand in my yard is in the kids sandbox...do you have any idea what all has went on in that sandbox....yuck!

Anyway I bought 30 pounds of Carib Sea aragonite. My kh is nearly non-existant, so I guess the buffering capabilities of this sand will help a lot.

Thanks for replying.

Now I just need to recycle and find some fish.;)
 
Go to a pool supply store and check out pool filter sand. It's very cheap - $5 for a 50 lb. bag. Make sure you rinse it in a bucket really well or it might take a while for your cloudy water to clear up.

I'd spend the $5 for the peace of mind of NOT using sandbox sand. :)

Why don't you want to go ahead and use the sand you already bought? Sounds good to me.
 
The sand you bought is an excellent choice. Please don't ever use sand from your yard. You never know what is in it and there is no way to clean it well enough to put into an aquarium.
 
Silca sand won't raise your buffering capacity. Although Tanganyikans will tolerate softer water than is in the lake, the one thing that they don't like is fluctuation. Lake Tanganyika is huge and temp., pH, don't fluctuate by much (they may fluctuate greatly as to area of the lake, but each area of the lake stays pretty stable).
 
Yes very safe and desirable.
 
I did use the aragonite sand, mainly for the buffering capacity. Now I need the shells and the fish.

I have to reestablish the bacteria though..I am feeding the tank shrimp pellets. I have never fishless cycled. I hope this works.

Thanks for the replies. Anyone know where to get some good shell-dwellers?
 
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