Sand or Crushed Coral

[CichlidLady0312]

Hello,

Im looking to upgrade from a 35 gallon octagon tank to a 72 gallow bow front. I have sand in my tank right now but looking to switch over to crushed coral although ive been hearing sand is better for rhe cichlids so they dont hurt their gills. Anyways, whats the benefits of having crushed coral? As you can see im new to this and looking to make my tank a healthy environment for my peacocks n pleco

 

[TheCommunityCichlid]

The only benefit crushed coral has is it will raise your ph and your hardness which isn't bad for Africans. Keeping you water parameters stable and constant is best thing to do.

 

[aquandrew]

i would go with aragonite thats what im going to be using in my new 55 crushed coral is known to produce algae and if you get aragonite it wont nearly as much but it will still buffer the ph

 

[aquandrew]

it doesnt raise the ph quite as high as crushed coral but consistency is what you need

 

[Big Tex]

Hello,

Im looking to upgrade from a 35 gallon octagon tank to a 72 gallow bow front. I have sand in my tank right now but looking to switch over to crushed coral although ive been hearing sand is better for rhe cichlids so they dont hurt their gills. Anyways, whats the benefits of having crushed coral? As you can see im new to this and looking to make my tank a healthy environment for my peacocks n pleco

I would stick to sand, it's softer on the fish and yet can dig and play easier in it, try some sugar white pfs sand, ill be switching from play sand to swpfs soon.

 

[CichlidLady0312]

thanks ill stick w sand. I think white will dull the peacocks colors. Looking for a darker sand but not black.

 

[Big Tex]

thanks ill stick w sand. I think white will dull the peacocks colors. Looking for a darker sand but not black.

Then use playsand, it's $3 for a 50lb sack at lowes right now.

 

[erikmoseley]

i would go with aragonite thats what im going to be using in my new 55 crushed coral is known to produce algae and if you get aragonite it wont nearly as much but it will still buffer the ph

+1 on that. It's still sand if you get the less coarse version. It's perfect because all the poo sits on top but its not toooo fine that it stirs up easy and makes water cloudy and clogs your filters. I'm personally not a play sand can it looks too much like dirt

 

[erikmoseley]

Hers my tank substrates. First is pool filter sand an second is aragonite. Aragonite a more pricy but worth it. I have a 72 and used 60 lbs

 

[Big Tex]

Hers my tank substrates. First is pool filter sand an second is aragonite. Aragonite a more pricy but worth it. I have a 72 and used 60 lbs

Hey Eric my setup uses playsand and it doesn't look brown at all once rinsed, and under leds it looks really good. Surprised the hell outta me too.

 

[TheCommunityCichlid]

I used pool filter sand and mine is a dark tank color. It was quicrete brand from menards

 

[erikmoseley]

Hey Eric my setup uses playsand and it doesn't look brown at all once rinsed, and under leds it looks really good. Surprised the hell outta me too.

Ha Tex! I musts got the wrong brand! I never even put it in after washing it! And I think yours looks good!

 

[Big Tex]

Ha Tex! I musts got the wrong brand! I never even put it in after washing it! And I think yours looks good!

I actually just rescaped and added about 25lbs of sand that's how I know it's on sale lol here's a pic

 

[erikmoseley]

I actually just rescaped and added about 25lbs of sand that's how I know it's on sale lol here's a pic

Looks good! I almost pulled the trigger on a male hongi yesterday but I'm already at max capacity I think. And I didn't want too many blue and black stripe fish. My male hara white top colored up sick today and decided to become the new tank boss!

 

[Big Tex]

Looks good! I almost pulled the trigger on a male hongi yesterday but I'm already at max capacity I think. And I didn't want too many blue and black stripe fish. My male hara white top colored up sick today and decided to become the new tank boss!

I saw it I think, on another post? And hongi island is definitely the king of my tank lol

 

[erikmoseley]

I saw it I think, on another post? And hongi island is definitely the king of my tank lol

That was the female here's the fella

 

[haleybeth30]

my hongi is 1.5 to 2 in. little dude. Is he supposed to have his colors already? He was sold to me as red top

 

[Big Tex]

That was the female here's the fella

Sweet, I get excited when my yellow top afra cobue get excited and color up it's awesome, but I have some galleria reefs that I'm growing out and I'm excited for those as well because they're gonna look like yours but purplish blue stripes and white body with orange dorsal and pectorals

 

[Big Tex]

my hongi is 1.5 to 2 in. little dude. Is he supposed to have his colors already? He was sold to me as red top

If he's a hongi yes he should show orange already,

 

[erikmoseley]

Sweet, I get excited when my yellow top afra cobue get excited and color up it's awesome, but I have some galleria reefs that I'm growing out and I'm excited for those as well because they're gonna look like yours but purplish blue stripes and white body with orange dorsal and pectorals

Yah he's very whiteish blue. That pics from direct under blue led so he looks more blue. Awesome fish cuz the females look good too