Thinking about changing from a gravel to a sand substrate.

[kjd277]

I have a 125 g. tank mixed with South American and African Cichlids. I am thinking about changing the substrate because of the Africans. My tap water is well and has a ph of 7. The africans right now seem to not have a problem with that. I do not know if they will some where down the line. I have a natural gravel now and am wondering about changing to a sand or a crushed coral based material. I believe that crushed coral buffers the ph to about 7.4 and sand to about 8.2. I was thinking that if I added crushed coral to my gravel that I would be able to keep my south american cichlids since the ph would only go as high as 7.4. I would probably have to switch totally over to africans if I go with sand. I am new here and with Africans, but have had fish for 20 years. People always ask how my fish always get along because there are so many different kinds. Right now I am buffering the ph to 7.5 with baking soda. I figured that 7.5 is the max for the south americans and it is the minimum for the africans. I'm just trying to get different opinions on the subject to help me deside. I like sand but would probably kill my other cichlids. Maybe crushed coral would be the way to go. And also, do you mix it with the gravel or put it in the filter. Or what if I just add a little sand to the aquarium. I don't know if the amount of sand matters in how high the ph goes. Or should I live it alone. If it isn't broke, don't fix it kind of thing. Thank you for any opinions you can give me on this subject.


Tank mates
2- bloddy parrots
2- gold severums
1- green severum
2- tricolored sharks
2- tinfoil barbs
3- silver dollars
1- salvini
1- 3line catfish
1- sunshine peacock
2- yellow labs
1- albino zebra
2- brichari
2- jewel cichlids
1- blue dolphin hap
2- blue ahli
1- blue johanni
1- yellow auratus
1- with brown spots, forgot name.
1- frontosa
2- mixed peacocks

2 aqua clear 500 for filters with 2 sponges and no charcoal.

 

[gophersnake13]

I don't know if the South American Cichlids will like hard water, from what I have read.

 

[Karnaaj]

The crushed coral is going to raise the ph far higher than 7.4. More like 8.0 or better. The sand should not raise the ph at all unless it is some sort of sand specially made for Africans. To be honest with you my guess is that your Africans are doing just OK at that ph.

 

[kjd277]

thanks for the input. It is helpful to have other opinions. Thanks again.

 

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

Yeah i think you got it mixed up.... sand will not change the ph unless it has some buffer material added and is specially made for raising ph. Other than that sand is just like gravel. Crushed coral will raise pH way up over 8.0.... usually 8.2 i beilieve.

Technically you should not mix south americans and africans... what are you feeding these guys? Both require drastically different diets and water chemistry.

 

[losthere]

totally different

americans and africans need much different water conditions as well as different diets. Depending on the species the americans are more agressive than the amreicans and there is sure to be some fighting going on if it isnt already. In my opinion you should choose one type of course africans j/k or better yet keep both and get another tank.

 

[devz11]

in regards to the keeping of Africans and Americans. I successfully keep two oscars and two red top zebras in the same tank. they never fight and get along quite well. The red tops have established a territory but the oscars always wonder in and no one ever gets hurt. The red tops eat the same things as the oscars, bloodworms and cichlid pellets plus some zucchini. Like i said they are all happy as pigs in mud.