Sand

[fluttermoth]

Unless you're keeping very delicate fish, like discus or rams, or wild caught fish, you don't need to worry about your ph. Trying to change it to suit your fish just leads to varying pH levels which are far worse for fish than keeping it stable.

'Buffer's' are basically minerals that keep the hardness up and stop the pH crashing, you can't buffer down!

Non of the fish you're thinking of keeping need anything special done with regards to pH at all. The eventual level in your tank will probably end up slightly less than what comes out of your tap (as fish and plants use up minerals and produce nitrate which slightly acidify the water), but that's honestly nothing to worry about.

I think many beginners worry far too much about pH; in the normal run of things you can more or less forget about it.

I've had play sand in four of my tanks for nearly two years and have never had any trouble with sand compacting, or turning anaerobic or anything like that!

 

[Tizer]

play sand, not sure whats in it? Its got #28### all in it, its play sand, it has to be child safe, its inert, hence it makes a brilliant and cheap substrate.

yes, it compacts over time, all substrates do to some degree. Best purchase would have been some silica sand, the grain is slightly larger, however, play sand is perfect for a budget.

This is my tank when i used play sand about a year or more ago now.

Coral sand, sell it on Aquarist Classified or on here in the classifieds forum or even eBay as pickup only.

I suggest you ask before you buy, on here in the future, we know lots of stuffs!

top tip of the day...don't #101## around with your PH using liquids, its a nightmare, stability is key.

oh and would i ever use play sand again? yes, but not if i wanted plants. I've learnt just how awesome planted substrates actually are.

 

[markandjanice]

Unless you're keeping very delicate fish, like discus or rams, or wild caught fish, you don't need to worry about your ph. Trying to change it to suit your fish just leads to varying pH levels which are far worse for fish than keeping it stable.

'Buffer's' are basically minerals that keep the hardness up and stop the pH crashing, you can't buffer down!

Non of the fish you're thinking of keeping need anything special done with regards to pH at all. The eventual level in your tank will probably end up slightly less than what comes out of your tap (as fish and plants use up minerals and produce nitrate which slightly acidify the water), but that's honestly nothing to worry about.

I think many beginners worry far too much about pH; in the normal run of things you can more or less forget about it.

I've had play sand in four of my tanks for nearly two years and have never had any trouble with sand compacting, or turning anaerobic or anything like that!

flutter thanks for this i do appreciate your input and i am new, so if am not to worry is coral sand ok then? ie: dont have to worry re: PH?

oh ok tizer, lesson learned sorry - guess i wrongly assumed my LFS would know whats good or not, me bein the newbie and all

 

[Tizer]

not having a go at you, no need to apologise i'm just one of those blunt kinda people..

most people who work in shops just nod and agree with you, they cant be bothered half the time, lost interest.

Need to travel around to find the good ones.

you wont be newbie for long, 6 month and you will have gathered a wealth of info that 99% of the population have no clue about.

 

[markandjanice]

not having a go at you, no need to apologise i'm just one of those blunt kinda people..

most people who work in shops just nod and agree with you, they cant be bothered half the time, lost interest.

Need to travel around to find the good ones.

you wont be newbie for long, 6 month and you will have gathered a wealth of info that 99% of the population have no clue about.

couldn't agree more tizer, just hurts knowing ive paid a lot of money and not been advised correctly, personally i think it #61###ing stinks, i'm in sales in my profession and i tell people also brutally honest, ie: to point i wont take a sale if i feel its not right or what i would do for myself!

 

[Tizer]

if you get into fish keeping in a big way, £30 of sand is nothing. Going by the amount of stock changing half the people on here do its just a drop in the ocean I'd keep it, stash it away and if you ever sell the tank, try claw your money back then. Also, you never know, you might want it one day if you look at other species.

 

[markandjanice]

if you get into fish keeping in a big way, £30 of sand is nothing. Going by the amount of stock changing half the people on here do its just a drop in the ocean I'd keep it, stash it away and if you ever sell the tank, try claw your money back then. Also, you never know, you might want it one day if you look at other species.

yeh very true tizer, i ad lookin into malawi as my next venture to be honest

 

[Salam]

i ad lookin into malawi as my next venture to be honest

And so the addiction begins It sucks that you were sold the wrong sand, but if you are considering malawi, then put it in the loft / garage / spare room and save it until later.

If you don't like the colour of the playsand, you could look into Pets at Home gravel. They have some very fine, sandy type ones, one is in natural colours. I just picked up an 8kg bag for £11.

Whereabouts are you? Maybe we can suggest good, trustable LFS in your area.

 

[markandjanice]

i ad lookin into malawi as my next venture to be honest

And so the addiction begins It sucks that you were sold the wrong sand, but if you are considering malawi, then put it in the loft / garage / spare room and save it until later.

If you don't like the colour of the playsand, you could look into Pets at Home gravel. They have some very fine, sandy type ones, one is in natural colours. I just picked up an 8kg bag for £11.

Whereabouts are you? Maybe we can suggest good, trustable LFS in your area.

i live in barrow in furness cumbria, i'm a little out of it here, i popped to maidenhead aquatics the other week who were amazing so i'll probly visit them agen or hayes at ambleside.

i am goin to contact my LFS and see if they'll take it back however, if not could keep hold or try sell...just annoyed tho really.

was always my intention to eventually keep malawis, my uncle has a 6 or 7ft tank FULL literally FULL of them they breed like nobodys business, i recall many years ago buying him a frontosa for his bday, stunningly beautiful fish

 

[Salam]

Have you opened the bag? If not, yes you could possibly return it, even if it's for store credit. You might aswell exchange for API testing kit or food if you don't want to get fish there, as you will need those soon anyway.

Maidenhead Aquatics is good. I'm sure someone from your neck of the woods can suggest a good local FS.

Malawis are fab, I just started out with them and love them to bits.

 

[markandjanice]

Have you opened the bag? If not, yes you could possibly return it, even if it's for store credit. You might aswell exchange for API testing kit or food if you don't want to get fish there, as you will need those soon anyway.

Maidenhead Aquatics is good. I'm sure someone from your neck of the woods can suggest a good local FS.

Malawis are fab, I just started out with them and love them to bits.

very tempting to get malawis but i really do wana start on normal tropicals as i call them haha...i avnt got enuf rock for malawis to hide in at the moment!!! tho i do av the tank and coral sand, HAHAHAHA...

av opened it mate but not my fault if theyve wrongly advised me, oh trust me i can be imposing if i wana be

 

[Tizer]

Can you spell when you want to spell too?

 

[markandjanice]

Can you spell when you want to spell too?

LOL Tizer, cheeky, I'm on a stupid phone and it predicts, also my boy uses my phone and he saves lots of "text" words etc, its really difficult sometimes, hence now I am on a computer

 

[Salam]

Give them some good bollocking.

You could straight go to malawis, they are not harder to keep. Unless you really want to try your luck with a tropical community first.

 

[markandjanice]

Give them some good bollocking.

You could straight go to malawis, they are not harder to keep. Unless you really want to try your luck with a tropical community first.

hmmmmm salam you'vegot me thinking mate I must be honest! would save hassle I guess? I've go the tank juwel vision 180, sand I do have slate but I no you have to make lots of rock caves for them as they're very territorial.