Fish Only + Silica Sand = ?

[shawntraviss]

Hello all. Im looking to convert a FW tank into SW. There is currently about 100lbs of silica sand and maybe 50lbs of normal aquarium gravel in the tank as is. Would that sand / gravel mix be fine if i added "base rock" to help with PH buffering? Please keep in mind this would be a fish only tank. No corals or inverts.

 

[sikoko]

i would say try and strain out the gravel its tedious but gravel and salt dont really mix.

 

[01yellowr]

I was told that silica sand is not good for salt water.

 

[nonstophoops]

Hello all. Im looking to convert a FW tank into SW. There is currently about 100lbs of silica sand and maybe 50lbs of normal aquarium gravel in the tank as is. Would that sand / gravel mix be fine if i added "base rock" to help with PH buffering? Please keep in mind this would be a fish only tank. No corals or inverts.

Saltwater + Silica = Diatoms and low Ph.

You should really pull all of it out and go to the store and get a bag of aragonite sand. I used one 40 lb bag on my 210 to give you an idea of what you need. Just enough to cover the bottom really(like a half inch). Anymore sand than that and it just traps lots of waste and causes water quality problems. You don't need to get live sand either, that stuff doesn't do anything so don't waste your money.

 

[sikoko]

learn something new every day. i rarely use live sand in my tanks

 

[FLESHY]

Dustin said everything you need to hear.

Silica sand will also blow all over the place, and be hard to clean...creating compaction...other issues...and just a general pain.

1-2mm grain size aragonite is vacuumable, and good for your aquarium.