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phoenix1024
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 Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 8:06 pm Post subject: Need help with substrate |
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For over a month now I've been using black mosaic stones bought from a hardware store as my substrate. The reason being, i wanted a dark substrate and the LFS didn't have anything as such.
Anyways I did the Vinegar test (which I did earlier too but came negative ' ' ) again today and noticed bubbling  . This means I need to remove it right ??
The stones I have currently..
Now, I have 2 sackful of Construction Sand at home.
Can I use this as substrate ? I have read before it can cause problems (anaerobic decay etc.) but again seen quite a number of people using the same... |
Last edited by phoenix1024 on Thu Mar 15, 2012 9:31 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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sandeepraghuvanshi
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| Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 9:00 pm Post subject: Re: Substrate Emergency.... Help !!!! |
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Just how is this an emergency ?
Please use words in proper context. |
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phoenix1024
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| Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 9:29 pm Post subject: Re: Need help with Substrate |
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Sorry !!! U're absolutely right. That's misleading.
I used 'emergency' because that 'gravel' has been in my tank for over a month now. Now I'm worried how it has affected my set up. I lost a huge number of fish about 2 weeks ago, although that was quite some time after I added those stones.
Anyways, I will edit the heading now if I can. Also, can u help me with my query ? |
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nanomania
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:27 am Post subject: Re: Need help with substrate |
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| well just go for river sand with ADA as base. Have been doing this since 2 years now with success. you can use only river sand too but the growth will be a bit slow (if thats ok for you) i am growing plants without ADA too in my shrimp tank. its the best thing you can do. construction sand has no clay so no nutrients for plants untill you dose liquid fert. but that will cause algae bloom....... i have river sand left with me. PM me if you want. |
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sandeepraghuvanshi
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:03 pm Post subject: Re: Need help with substrate |
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The pieces in first picture are too big and useless in tanks.
You will need to sieve river sand 2-3 mm size particles are best for planted tanks.
You can prevent the substrate from going anaerobic by using plants with deep root systems. Such plants keep the substrate aerated.
I have had planted tank with such substrate for over three years without any problem. |
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phoenix1024
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 5:05 pm Post subject: Re: Need help with substrate |
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| sandeepraghuvanshi wrote (View Post):
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The pieces in first picture are too big and useless in tanks.
You will need to sieve river sand 2-3 mm size particles are best for planted tanks.
You can prevent the substrate from going anaerobic by using plants with deep root systems. Such plants keep the substrate aerated.
I have had planted tank with such substrate for over three years without any problem.
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Actually my tank isn't planted, mainly because of inadequate lighting (15 Watt in 50 Gal). Owing to power consumption issues I can't get stronger lights.
Anyways,thanks a lot for the reply.
| nanomania wrote (View Post):
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well just go for river sand with ADA as base. Have been doing this since 2 years now with success. you can use only river sand too but the growth will be a bit slow (if thats ok for you) i am growing plants without ADA too in my shrimp tank. its the best thing you can do. construction sand has no clay so no nutrients for plants untill you dose liquid fert. but that will cause algae bloom....... i have river sand left with me. PM me if you want.
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Wish I could afford ADA  . As I mentioned above, my tank isn't planted. Is river sand different from Construction sand ? |
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Linelogic
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:20 pm Post subject: Re: Need help with substrate |
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| Both are the same. Construction sand is actually got from river banks or from the shallow river beds. |
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phoenix1024
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:36 pm Post subject: Re: Need help with substrate |
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| Linelogic wrote (View Post):
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Both are the same. Construction sand is actually got from river banks or from the shallow river beds.
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That's what i was thinking. Thanks for the clarification. |
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nanomania
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:48 pm Post subject: Re: Need help with substrate |
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| phoenix1024 wrote (View Post):
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| Linelogic wrote (View Post):
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Both are the same. Construction sand is actually got from river banks or from the shallow river beds.
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That's what i was thinking. Thanks for the clarification.
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Nope its not. construction sand dosend have any CLAY it might be coming from rivers but there are many rivers and everywhere the soil there is different. some rivers have rich vegetation due to its soil and nurtients thats where the sand comes from.... ADA is expensive but value for money. thats why i use 1/4th ada and rest is riversoil for my main tanks, rest i use only river sand. even my shrimp breeding tripled.... |
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phoenix1024
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:53 pm Post subject: Re: Need help with substrate |
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| nanomania wrote (View Post):
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| phoenix1024 wrote (View Post):
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| Linelogic wrote (View Post):
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Both are the same. Construction sand is actually got from river banks or from the shallow river beds.
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That's what i was thinking. Thanks for the clarification.
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Nope its not. construction sand dosend have any CLAY it might be coming from rivers but there are many rivers and everywhere the soil there is different. some rivers have rich vegetation due to its soil and nurtients thats where the sand comes from.... ADA is expensive but value for money. thats why i use 1/4th ada and rest is riversoil for my main tanks, rest i use only river sand. even my shrimp breeding tripled....
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Ohh. |
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phoenix1024
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Joined: Nov 04, 2011
Posts: 26
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| Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:54 pm Post subject: Re: Need help with substrate |
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| nanomania wrote (View Post):
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| phoenix1024 wrote (View Post):
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| Linelogic wrote (View Post):
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Both are the same. Construction sand is actually got from river banks or from the shallow river beds.
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That's what i was thinking. Thanks for the clarification.
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Nope its not. construction sand dosend have any CLAY it might be coming from rivers but there are many rivers and everywhere the soil there is different. some rivers have rich vegetation due to its soil and nurtients thats where the sand comes from.... ADA is expensive but value for money. thats why i use 1/4th ada and rest is riversoil for my main tanks, rest i use only river sand. even my shrimp breeding tripled....
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Ohh. |
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sandeepraghuvanshi
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Joined: Aug 19, 2005
Posts: 4717
Location: Mathura, UP
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| Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 10:02 am Post subject: Re: Need help with substrate |
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| nanomania wrote (View Post):
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| phoenix1024 wrote (View Post):
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| Linelogic wrote (View Post):
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Both are the same. Construction sand is actually got from river banks or from the shallow river beds.
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That's what i was thinking. Thanks for the clarification.
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Nope its not. construction sand dosend have any CLAY it might be coming from rivers but there are many rivers and everywhere the soil there is different. some rivers have rich vegetation due to its soil and nurtients thats where the sand comes from.... ADA is expensive but value for money. thats why i use 1/4th ada and rest is riversoil for my main tanks, rest i use only river sand. even my shrimp breeding tripled....
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Did not get your point.
If construction sand does not come from rivers, then where does it come from ? |
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phoenix1024
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| Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 10:31 am Post subject: Re: Need help with substrate |
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| I heard somewhere construction sand tends to raise hardness/pH over time. Is that true ? Isn't sand supposed to be inert ? |
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