Live Sand - Freshwater?

[KristineNote]

I went to Petsmart today to get my 29 gal tank. Bought it. Filled it up with water, did the stress coat, stress zyme, and water conditioner.

I asked the Petsmart employee what type of sand could I get for a freshwater aquarium. Well as he lifted up the very heavy tank into my cart, he then pointed at a 20 lbs bag of live sand and at my nod, he put it in my cart.

Now I'm wondering if Live Sand is not suppose to be used for freshwater / tropical aquariums? Say I dumped the bag of sand in without a second thought and then started to doubt the use of Live Sand for my tank after reading the bag... Oops. It says nothing about freshwater. So I'm a bit worried that the Petsmart employee gave me the wrong sand and I stupidly used it.

On the off chance that I can use Live Sand for freshwater - I also bought Nutrafin Cycle. Do I need to use it if I used Stress Coat and Stress Zyme?

If I messed up royally, what can I do to fix this?

If I can't fix this without pumping the tank clean, rinsing it out, and starting all over again - what type of sand should I get and where can I get it?

 

[StandbySetting]

Live sand is unsuitable, it contains a bunch of dead bacteria and is composed of Calcium Carbonate so will raise your PH.

Nutrafin Cycle isn't necessary, nor is Stress Zyme, Stress Coat is a dechlorinator so should be used.

Use plain Silica sand.

 

[Kelly-Jo]

Live sand will increase the pH a great deal. I believe it can increase it to over 8.0 which is not ideal for the majority of freshwater fish

 

[bristlenoseitplecoman]

I think you should just drain the tank and take out the sand and get new gravel if there are no fish in it.

 

[Kelly-Jo]

I think you should just drain the tank and take out the sand and get new gravel if there are no fish in it.

wouldn't recommend gravel anymore, after having it for 8 months. I was so anti-sand originally but will be changing over in summer. It's better for the fish, less mess, less hassle. Just basic argos play sand works fine.

 

[KristineNote]

Thanks for the quick replies! No fish in there, btw.

I knew I messed up. I'll probably just start over but I know Goldfish need a pH of 7.5 or more - and a very large tank. I love goldfish but never had one because they grow so big...

Just curious, probably won't do this, but could I get goldfish now that I have a high pH tank? I'm googling some stuff on Goldfish but can't find anything about live sand and them.

If I can't then I'll start pumping my tank right now. But if I can keep goldfish now, then I'll consider my options before dumping my tank's high pH ridden water.

 

[Kelly-Jo]

I wouldn't put goldfish in with live sand, don't think it's a good idea personally.

 

[twodoctors]

You can put SOME african cichlids in there. Probably the peacocks rather than mbunas.

Adrian

 

[KristineNote]

Thank you everyone for your input!

I have emptied out my tank, rinsed it out and then paper-towel dried it. My God is a 30 gal tank heavy! I had to pump all the water out into ten buckets-- anyway, long story short: HARD.

I will now be using bottled purified water instead of tap and then do a 3 day cycle. I have filled it halfway with water and will buy more water later today. I know it's expensive but I'm very, very lazy D: Going to LPS today to get some more plastic plants and some other things.

Thank you again!

 

[SLIM]

3 day cycle? Is there such a thing? Cycling normally takes approximately a month

 

[StandbySetting]

Purified water is not suitable for fish, it contains no minerals or nutrients, tap water is fine.

 

[EnviroSciGuy]

3 day cycle? Is there such a thing? Cycling normally takes approximately a month

With the use of certain products, it's quite do-able.

 

[EnviroSciGuy]

Purified water is not suitable for fish, it contains no minerals or nutrients, tap water is fine.

I'm a water quality guy, in real life...

Don't listen to this. Adding purified water is BEST. When you feed, not everything will be eaten, this starts a number of different processes. The minerals in the water that your fish benefit from is so miniscule, these cycles more than make up for it.

The issue is actually using tap water (that's why you see bottled PURIFIED water at stores, with nutrients added mind you). If you use tap, and it's city water, be careful. Many cities add anti-corrosion compounds (clorites ?) which, BTW, refuses to evaporate out. If it's well water, you're adding whatever minerals is in your well and ground layers. If youre on city water, call and see what they add that doesnt evapirate out. I appologize, I cant remember the compond, but Im pretty sure it's a chlorite.

Best
Purified
City without compond X
Well water
City water with compond x
Rat poison

....
To address the original question...
Salt doesn't evaporate out, which is how the oceans and seas stay salty. Dont add a bag of live sand to a fresh water tank. Unless you're raising something that does best in brackish water.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

This is an old thread, but I'll address the question you've raised... I believe the compound you are referring to is chloramine. This does not evaporate...

 

[AbbeysDad]

Just as importantly is that there IS live sand marketed for freshwater.
"Believe it or not"