New to Rope Fish - help on set up

[twentyleagues]

The crushed shells in beach sand may have a negative impact on your tank. Depending on what your tap water is and how much of a swing you get inbetween wc's. Even though i read that the ph swing thing is more of a myth than fact. I would still be leary of bringing sand home from a beach.

I'd play it safe and pick up some pfs or blasting sand like the black stuff or garnet sand

As you are well aware I'd have gone garnet in a heart beat if only someone in the area even knew what I was talking about or could even remotely help me. bottomdweller72 if you can get garnet it looks awsome! I think clm08k lives in the sameish area as you she couldn't find it either.

 

[thefredpit]

The crushed shells in beach sand may have a negative impact on your tank. Depending on what your tap water is and how much of a swing you get inbetween wc's. Even though i read that the ph swing thing is more of a myth than fact. I would still be leary of bringing sand home from a beach.

I'd play it safe and pick up some pfs or blasting sand like the black stuff or garnet sand

I can confirm the ph swing is not a myth on a heavily stocked tank. If I don't keep on top of it my ph will drop about 1 point in 5 days

 

[thefredpit]

oh thats with crushed coral in the filter

 

[magpie]

My pH also tanked quickly (from 7ish to below 6! between weekly WCs) in my prior city without crushed coral. It's because the water was exceptionally soft so it couldn't hold it. I don't think that it's normally that dramatic with water that isn't on the extreme side of soft.

 

[DRteugelsi]

As you are well aware I'd have gone garnet in a heart beat if only someone in the area even knew what I was talking about or could even remotely help me. bottomdweller72 if you can get garnet it looks awsome! I think clm08k lives in the sameish area as you she couldn't find it either.

You can order it on ebay. Though i haven't tested it out from so i cannot attest to quality or anything but there are a few online places as well but they like to get you with shipping.

 

[Mighty Wizard]

The crushed shells in beach sand may have a negative impact on your tank. Depending on what your tap water is and how much of a swing you get inbetween wc's. Even though i read that the ph swing thing is more of a myth than fact. I would still be leary of bringing sand home from a beach.

I'd play it safe and pick up some pfs or blasting sand like the black stuff or garnet sand

It would only be a problem for soft-water tanks, as the calcium will pretty much guarantee a stable neutral ph. See the crushed shells will only start to dissolve if the water goes sour, bringing the ph back up to neutral. It's very predictable.

 

[jaws7777]

I can confirm the ph swing is not a myth on a heavily stocked tank. If I don't keep on top of it my ph will drop about 1 point in 5 days

Yeah i meant a myth that it causes harm.
Not that it actually happens. I remember a while back when i mentioned that i do fin level wcs mulriple times per week someone mentioned how ph swings could be harmful. I never put much weight in it because i figured in the wild there has to be some fluctuations during rainy/dry seasons and after doing this wc regime for yrs my fish would have eventually shown some negative effects.

Drstrangelove could better explain. Sorry doc i dont remember the thread where you laid it all out.

Regardless i would be to nervous to use neacg sand. Its probably perfectly safe but id want to be on the safe side

 

[thefredpit]

I'd also be worried about beach sand because of bacteria

 

[Mighty Wizard]

I'd also be worried about beach sand because of bacteria

Then it would be safer to never put anything, ever, into your tank. Bacteria are everywhere. The bacteria present in beach sand won't survive for long in the tank, let alone be able to establish a colony.

People think of bacteria as these scary little assassins, when in reality the absolute vast majority are completely harmless. It's an incredibly diverse group of organisms, having evolved to fill pretty much every ecological niche on the planet. Like those in your tank, cleaning the water.

The only bacteria I know of that can hitchhike from the ocean into your aquarium would be one or two species of cyanobacteria, which aren't really bacteria. They're also perfectly harmless.

Further, collecting dry sand pretty much guarantees that it doesn't contain any live aquatic bacteria. They die out of water.

 

[bottomdweller72]

The crushed shells in beach sand may have a negative impact on your tank. Depending on what your tap water is and how much of a swing you get inbetween wc's. Even though i read that the ph swing thing is more of a myth than fact. I would still be leary of bringing sand home from a beach.

I'd play it safe and pick up some pfs or blasting sand like the black stuff or garnet sand

I'm inclined to agree with you. After the last sand experience, I really don't want to enter another possible mess. It's great people have success with beach sand but I'm far too new to sand lol