Being the newbie I was, I was talked into buying it because it's "sand that is cleaned and meant for fish. In the saltwater area, they had aragonite sand - 10kg for $30. So off I went to my LFS to get sand - but was surprised to find that they only had one kind, and the cost of the sand. I had those coloured stones/pebbles as substrate, but after researching corries I found out that they prefer sand. It's a long story, so get comfy, but I wanted to get this out in case anyone else does this too.Ī year ago I had just started aquarium keeping, and had a little family of corries in my tank. So I'll go back to the start of things before I explain why I think aragonite sand was killing my corries. These articles have NO links to profit making sites and are thus unbiased in their recommendations, unlike all the for-profit sites you will find with Google.Sorry if this is in the wrong thread - I figured this was the most relevant spot to post it? The chapters shown below or on the right side in maroon lead to close to 400 articles on all aspects of keeping a freshwater aquarium. The 120 day tests were interesting but not pertinent to anyone who does any sort of water changes.įor more on how a pH of 7.6 to 7.9 is good for almost any fish click on this link: 4.4.1. So the test was redone, which gave the first set of numbers.īoth tests together show that buffering materials which are calcium carbonate are beneficial in the aquarium as a pH of 7.5 to 7.9 is a very good pH for almost all freshwater tropical fish. This data showed that the water (spring water from the store) had a lot of carbon dioxide in it which needed to be removed by acidification and aeration before running a good test. The water with nothing in it went from 6.84 pH to 7.6 pH over 32 days. Initially the test was run with the spring water without acidifying it or aerating it and different numbers were obtained: Graph of buffering Aquarium Substrates It was well aerated for two weeks and titrated to 6.6 pH, dGH 6 and dKH of 0. The water was initially at 6.8 pH, dGH 6, dKH of 0. Note the pH was tested with two titrated and adjusted meters, two test strips, and the API pH test.
![oolite aragonite sand oolite aragonite sand](http://www.aquariumdepot.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/299.jpg)
These were the results of the buffering substrate testing: Test of buffering Aquarium Substrates One bottle had baking soda added as an additional experiment. The pH was measured over a span of 120 days. Rocks and substrate were added to the bottles. This water was then put into seven bottles. Spring water from the store was acidified, aerated and titrated over the span of a few weeks to a stable 6.6 pH. Labeotropheus trewavasae Thumbi west Procedure Since 7.6 to 7.9 pH is an excellent pH for virtually all fish it is an excellent idea to add one form or another of calcium carbonate to the aquarium and just leave it there. Limestone rock, coral, aragonite, crushed coral and crushed shells all buffered very slightly acid 6.6 pH water up to a 7.6 to 7.9 pH quite well. Various types of crushed coral Abstract of TestĪ test was run on buffering substrate. The buffering action prevents absorption of iron and phosphate into the roots of the plants. So it will need to be replaced periodically.Īnd planted tanks typically do not do well with crushed coral, oolitic limestone sand or aragonite sand as a substrate. Aragonite has much less phosphate and crushed limestone has virtually no soluble phosphate.īoth crushed coral and aragonite will become “coated” with a very insoluble phosphate compound over the span of six months to a year. This phosphate can produce algae growth in an aquarium. Most crushed coral has substantial amounts of slightly soluble phosphate in it.
![oolite aragonite sand oolite aragonite sand](https://acuarioichthys.com/3522-thickbox_default/producto.jpg)
Note that there is one downside to crushed coral substrates. These substrates see very wide use in African cichlid aquariums. Also beneficial is using crushed coral, oolitic limestone sand or aragonite sand as a substrate. This pH is great for all fish, contrary to popular mythology. It is beneficial for most aquariums to add a bag of crushed coral to the filter.