What do you guys think about using saltwater live sand in a freshwater aquarium? I have about 100 lbs of live sand laying around, so I might as well use it for something. I'll be cleaning it up real good and maybe let it dry for awhile, then put it in a 55 gallon that is going to be a planted tank. Quite a bit of work is involved so maybe I'll just buy some gravels or new sand.
Using Live Sand for Planted Tank?
- Thread starter ktz216
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I don't think it would hurt anything. It def wont be "live" sand after you put it in freshwater. I'd be careful though cause all the SW organism will probably die off and cause a big ammonia/nitrite/nitrate spike.
I could be completely off base here though.
I could be completely off base here though.
Lupin
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- Sep 21, 2006
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- Paul
It is mostly calcium carbonate just like corals and therefore will increase both pH and KH. It'll work just fine. Give it a thorough washing and test for ammonia and nitrite levels.
Ditto. Some plants might not like the high pH/hardness resulting from the aragonite (I assume it's aragonite?). Most saltwater substrates raise the pH and hardness anyway.
Just do your research to find ones that won't be sensitive to it. I'd think any brackish plants would do great as brackish tends to have a pretty high pH also.
Just do your research to find ones that won't be sensitive to it. I'd think any brackish plants would do great as brackish tends to have a pretty high pH also.
I believe what really matters is what kind of fish you're going to put in... after all many African cichlids like hard/alkaline water. Most of what I've read suggests that only a few plants actually care about the pH/hardness of the water they're in, though there might be a melting/regrowth period when they adjust.