crushed coral in a 220g???

[Lisa]

Just wondering if I could use crushed coral in my 220g tank?? I have mixed africans and lava rocks, do you think it would look good? and also how much will I need, and one other thing what about alge how will I clean it off the coral. yes I am new to all this! or would you go with PFS?? Please help!:confused:

[Seedy]

sure you can use it...Just be aware that it will raise the pH and GH of your tank, but since you are keeping afrifcans that should be fine...

How much depends on if you have an undergravel filter or not, if not then you only need to cover the bottom with perhaps an inch (the fish are gonna dig it all the way to bottom) If you are using an undergravell filter then you would want a couple of inches, but once againl, the fish are gonna dig it up and make the UGF only partially effective...but you may allready know this...

As far as cleaning the coral....besides gravel vac'ing it, or getting an algae eating fish...I don't know what to tell you...

[Lisa]

thanks, no i dont have a ugf, do you like the coral or the pfs? yes I would like to boost the ph, as I have a piece of drift wood in there too.

[Seedy]

Drift wood can lower the pH, so using the coral will help buffer your water.....sorry what is 'pfs'...personally I use a mixed size, natural color, non epoxied gravel...but if I were to set up a tank today, I would use a very small gravel or even sand...

[Lisa]

pool filter sand (pfs),i have been considering this as well as the crushed coral, do you know anything about putting sand in, thanks Seedy

[jonah]

I prefer the pool filter sand in my tanks. It barely clouds up, even if you don't wash it. The grains are heavier than normal play sand and they don't stick together. It looks more natural to me too.

[Seedy]

But do you get the buffering with Pool filter sand? What is it actually made of?

[jonah]

I don't care about buffering, my water is consistently over 8 pH straight from the tap. I'll have to take a look at the bag that's left in my garage to see what it comes from.

[fermi]

Crushed coral as a substrate doesn't buffer the water as well as some think. It dissolves rather slowly and unless there is water running through it constantly it doesn't do a great job. Most people put it in the back of their HOB's or in their canisters. Also, crushed coral isn't a good substrate for fish that like to dig, build nests, or filter the substrate for food. It can irritate their gills as well as damage their scales if they flash against it.

[Lisa]

ok what about Tahitian moon sand??? does anyone no much about this stuff. I guess crushed coral is out of the question, so there is PFS is there any other good sand out there, because I dont want to have to change everthing again (after i go with the sand) does eveyone think sand is the way to go!!

[Seedy]

BTW I went and checked out what Pfs is... silica...

[jonah]

Yes, I checked it too, but forgot to mention it.

[GoatPervertor]

nice!!!