Remove coral or keep?

[Buphy]

So I just did a water test and all my levels are up. I beleive it was caused by the addition of my parents old coral. Thought I cleaned it well enough in hot water but apparently not (maybe?). Anyways. Do yall think I should remove it or "tough it out" with large water changes and "meds" to help stabilize the levels?

P.S. I have Jack Dempseys so I'm not worried that a temporary spike will kill them, but the best water quality is well, the best.

 

[duanes]

One of the places JDs are found, is the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico which is basically made up of limestone and other porous rock. The carbonate and calcium is constantly dissolving making the water very hard, creating giant sink holes where the base rock collapses (similar to what coral does in fresh water).
If what you mean by raising levels in your tank is the pH, hardness, and alkalinity, this would be not hurt these type cichlids, and in many cases be normal for the ones of that area.
If the raising levels are other parameters, it may not be necessarily be from coral.


Whether or not coral belongs in a freshwater tank, aesthetically speaking is a different matter, and more of an "opinion" type decision.

 

[cichlidfish]

I use crushed coral in my CA tanks. Its a great buffer and my ph has been a very consistent 7.6. I like using it with sand.

 

[Words]

So I just did a water test and all my levels are up. I beleive it was caused by the addition of my parents old coral. Thought I cleaned it well enough in hot water but apparently not (maybe?). Anyways. Do yall think I should remove it or "tough it out" with large water changes and "meds" to help stabilize the levels?

P.S. I have Jack Dempseys so I'm not worried that a temporary spike will kill them, but the best water quality is well, the best.

If you rinsed the coral in (hot) water, then chances that it changed anything other than your PH, are small. No meds will help to bring your levels back down. Consistent water changes over the next week or so is your only option. And without knowing how severe your parameters are, it might even be best to hold off on feeding during that time.