crushed coral

[elmer]

Newbie, 2nd post! My intro post is here: [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

I saw some crushed coral when I bought my 20G tank and loved the colour and natural look, so that's the bottom 2-3 inches of my tank. Don't know what fish I am putting in. I have two concerns now from comments I've seen around:

a) This coral looks kind of sharp. What kind of bottom feeder should I get?

b) Many people where I live use water softeners. And coral makes the water hard.

I will be fishless cycling for at least the next three weeks. Once I actually test the water, tonight, I'll post the water quality status. I have live plants and they are doing well so far.

[elmer]

Well, so far I have:

pH 8.1
Ammo 0.5
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0

I added a neat piece of driftwood that I like, and will see if it drops the pH at all.

[cocoa_pleco]

that PH is good for cichlids and mollies. otherwise, other fish may dislike it. lots of driftwood may bring it to a neutral 7 or close to 7

[Chrona]

Crushed coral as a substrate really limits your choices for fish. It also makes keeping plants harder as most plants prefer a soft acidic environment.

Also, don't use a softening system for aquarium water.

[elmer]

Luckily we don't have a water softener.
I actually don't have a test for softness/hardness, I only have pH, ammo, nitrite and nitrate.
I hope the large piece of driftwood will bring down the pH to something 7.8 or lower. I am looking into rainbow fish.
Our tap water has high alkalinity so I was anticipating looking for these types of fish anyway.

[Lady Hobbs]

The driftwood will only help lower the pH while it's new and releasing tannins. Once this is over (not long) it appears to no longer have any lowering effect. And driftwood will never bring pH down a whole point. It does help to lower the pH but never a whole point.

I think you need to choose one or the other. Either a tank with small cichlids (limited with that size tank) and the high pH OR a planted tank with community fish which will require removing the substract you currently have.

Adding coral substract and then fighting the high pH all the time will be a losing battle.

There are some small cichlids that would work in your tank such as a tank of Ram, or kribs and keyholes but even those don't require high pH and would do well in regular substract. The cichlids that pretty much require the higher pH are those that are too large for your tank size.

IMO, before you even start your cycle, you'd do best to remove that substract and get small round stones (if you want bottom dwellers) or sand. Your pH would then remain stable, you could have some plants and a whole better selection of what you wish to put in the tank.

Changing out your gravel now will be a whole lot easier than changing it once you have fish in your tank and it's established it's cycle. As Chrona mentioned, most plants don't do well in high pH as well.

PS.....bottom dwellers don't like the sharp gravel. It scraps their stomaches and causes injuries to them.

PS.... I notice you have ammonia and haven't began your cycle yet so you've had no source of ammonia in your tank. I suspect your tap water has low levels of ammonia. Test it right from your tap and see what you get.

[elmer]

Thank you all for your advice. I really do appreciate it very much. I'm considering changing the gravel, but I have my doubts that it will be effective.

The coral has been in the tank for four days. So far, it has not changed the pH of the water. The water is the same pH as the water from the tap, which is 8.1.

If I take the coral out, how much chance do I have of of stabilizing to a lower pH? (And, how?)

If I leave it in, is there a danger that the pH will climb from where it is?

I have also seen conflicting statements about sharp substrates on the internet. Has anyone personally seen evidence of bottom feeders being damaged this way?

edit: BTW, you are right - the water in the tap has the same level of ammonia.

edit: I am sorry to be challenging, it's just that my budget is limited and I hate to admit that I've made a mistake. However I will do what is best for the fish.

[Rue]

...I know that corys are sensitive to sharp gravel (like the coral sand) since it wears down their barbules...and then they don't forage as efficiently and have even been known to starve...

...and having just put the aragonite in my new SW tank without gloves...I can personally state that it's quite abrasive...

Good think I'm not into my nails..er, or my skin...

[Lady Hobbs]

Then my suggestion would be to leave the substract you now have but forget the bottom feeders and the plants and go with fish that don't need any adjusting to the pH. There are some small shell dwellers that are very cute.....(cichlids that lay their eggs in shells).

You might find a few plants that will tolerate the pH but then you run into the cost of additional lights required for plants to grow.

But you can have a very nice little tank going for you. Don't feel badly about making a mistake. This will not be your first. That's why it's called a "hobby". LOL

[Lady Hobbs]

Elmer, check the dwarf cichlid thread....Badis Badis .

These are some very cute little dwarfs that remain small.

[elmer]

Elmer, check the dwarf cichlid thread....Badis Badis .

These are some very cute little dwarfs that remain small.That looks like a great option - uncommon species, interesting behaviour, just what I'd like. I think I'd be happy with a group of those. I think I'll get started on the cycle then. That should give me time to see if the pH is going to rise higher.

[elmer]

There's a good fish store near my home that has a healthy supply of keyhole cichlids. 2 or 3 of those may be a good thing for me to start with.
I'm in Ottawa for Canada day, but when I get back I'm going to cut/drill the driftwood and make some more hiding places.