Sand or aragonite ?

[sisyphus895]

I have a 200g African tank that I have aragonite substrate. It has been working very well. I just picked up a 135g tank that I am also going put Africans in. I have seen a lot discussion about sand in African tanks and just wanted insights to the pros and cons between the two.


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[Austy16414]

Aragonite is great for buffering pH, but slightly harder to clean. Sand does nothing for pH but is super easy to clean and allows the fish to sift

[sisyphus895]

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. I do plan on an under gravel or sand filter and a couple power heads. Will the sand work with one those?



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[Austy16414]

Why an undergravel? In my opinion they're a waste, all they do is hide waste and make it harder to remove. If you go with sand, just use a couple powerheads to stir up dead spots occasionally

[sisyphus895]

Only because it came with the system. I have a wet/dry on my 200. It also came with 3 fairly powerful hob filters.


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[Austy16414]

Very nice. Unless you're really set on using it, I'd rethink it. Pool filter sand looks great and is super easy to keep clean. I swear by it

[Victorp]

how does pfs with aragonite look mixed together

[Mastiffman]

I would have to say that sand builds up some gases over time and if not mixed up well in the tank and then cleared of detritus after it settles it can cause water parameter issues.

I have aragonite in all of my tanks. Made by Carbi Sea and it the "Reef Grade Sand" which is bigger than sand, slightly. But the fish are still able to sift through just it fine and it's easy to clean. Just stick a siphon into it for a few seconds and the water clears. You know that section is clean. Move to the next.

Anyway, Carib Sea also makes "Sugar Grain" sized aragonite sand that looks awesome. It's the size of actual sand and functions as aragonite. Best of both worlds in your case.

[Thomas and Jennifer]

I was thinking of using "Reef Grade Sand" because I was worried it would settle more easily that sugar grain. Do powerheads more sugar grain size aragonite around?

[Mastiffman]

Technically, any current strong enough and at the right angle will move the substrate over time. but if you place the power heads near the bottom and point them upwards, I think you'll be okay with the SG sand.

[sisyphus895]

Mastiffman,

Thanks for the info. I used the Reef Grade Sand in my 200 gallon and it has worked well. I am leaning toward using it again in my new 135. It is full of water with a couple fish, but otherwise bare.

[Thomas and Jennifer]

Well, yeah. But does it move around easily or can mbuna's sifting through it cause a dust storm that will cloud water and eat motor shafts?

[sisyphus895]

Mine dig down to glass bottom when mating or just doing what they do. I rinse the Reef Grade Sand thoroughly before I put it in. No clouds. Only slightly when I clean the gravel each week.

[Mastiffman]

Mastiffman,

Thanks for the info. I used the Reef Grade Sand in my 200 gallon and it has worked well. I am leaning toward using it again in my new 135. It is full of water with a couple fish, but otherwise bare.

NP. yes I have it all of my tanks with a couple of the tanks have that mixed cichlid Sahara sand. Also looks great!

Well, yeah. But does it move around easily or can mbuna's sifting through it cause a dust storm that will cloud water and eat motor shafts?

It moves moderately easy for sifting but heavy enough that it doesn't typically get sucked into filtration.

Mine dig down to glass bottom when mating or just doing what they do. I rinse the Reef Grade Sand thoroughly before I put it in. No clouds. Only slightly when I clean the gravel each week.

What I did was just dump it in the tank, fill the tank will mixing the substrate up and then drain completely.
3-4 times of this and it's usually good to go and then maintenance from that point via gravel siphon.