Crushed corals for substrate? (BGK)

[dark_knights_99]

would it be ok to put crushed corals as means of substrate for my bgk?
Coz someone form another forum told me that crushed corals increases the ph of water and driftwood decreases ph. I just searched the web for the usual ph of bgk and they said that it is 6.0 or 7.0ph

 

[Wolf3101]

Our 8" BKN is doing just fine in a 60 gallon tank with a crushed coral substrate and a PH of 7.4. I would recomend going with #1 crushed coral rather than a #4 or a #0.

 

[PoopSmart]

I thought they needed somewhat softer water?

Our retarded petsmart keeps getting 3 in every thrusday and they are dead by friday because their water is like 8.4 and hard as can be.

I don't know though as I havn't kept BGK. What are your water parameters? If they are in the 7s don't use the coral i think that might be too hard. If your water is like 4 or 5 then yeah, but watch the pH.

 

[Wolf3101]

any RAPID change in PH and temperiture is bad for almost all fish but gradual changes can be easilly tolerated by most species. Crushed coral will not continue to raise PH much about 7.6 or so unless you already have very hard water. We use RO/DI water and with proper water changes all 12 of our tanks remain stable.

 

[dark_knights_99]

Will it be safe for my ghost knife. Im kinda scared on putting the crushed corals coz of the bgk sensitivity. Someone told me to boil the corals first.

 

[ewurm]

I think their native environment has a pH approaching 6-6.5, crushed coral will raise your pH and buffer your water. I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[filiportela]

I think their native environment has a pH approaching 6-6.5, crushed coral will raise your pH and buffer your water. I wouldn't recommend it.

exactly

 

[dark_knights_99]

I thought they needed somewhat softer water?

Our retarded petsmart keeps getting 3 in every thrusday and they are dead by friday because their water is like 8.4 and hard as can be.

I don't know though as I havn't kept BGK. What are your water parameters? If they are in the 7s don't use the coral i think that might be too hard. If your water is like 4 or 5 then yeah, but watch the pH.

its tap water.

 

[Pufferpunk]

I think their native environment has a pH approaching 6-6.5, crushed coral will raise your pH and buffer your water. I wouldn't recommend it.

Absolutely correct--don't do it. Driftwood is the perfect thing for your fish.

 

[mercury904]

I would rather use black sand