SA/CA Help in Aquascape Natural Tank
- Thread starter Gadro
- Start date
Gadro;1596933; said:
It's algae, I don't scrub it off though (it comes off really really easily) because I like it.
Sandstone is fine..... No effect. Limestone will raise pH.... That's probably what robmcd had in mind.
Bleach is perfectly fine to use as a disinfectant so long as you rinse it completely and/or air it out after cleaning. (An extra strong dose of dechlor might make you sleep better.)
Buttttttttt, you are mixing continents in your fish list: North America (CA), South America, and Africa. Most of those fish are pretty hardy; perhaps the Uaru is the "softest" of the list. The convicts and rainbows come from very hard and alkaline water. The others come from neutral to soft (or very soft in the case of Uaru).
I suggest you pick a environment and stick to it, fish and all. It sounds like you have a bunch of driftwood, so a SA tank might work for you. Throw in some geos, and you've got the anaerobic sand issue more than handled (they will turn it over several times a day!). In fact, if you do keep geos you almost HAVE to use sand to make them feel comfortable. You should really only have enough to fully cover the bottom in there anyway, so pockets shouldn't become a problem in a shallow layer. As an alternative, pool filter sand gives the same look and is easier to maintain as you can vacuum it.
As far as plants go, one or more of the vallisneria species would be a good choice. They are hardy and grow quickly. They are native to just about any cichlid environment you choose too.
Bleach is perfectly fine to use as a disinfectant so long as you rinse it completely and/or air it out after cleaning. (An extra strong dose of dechlor might make you sleep better.)
Buttttttttt, you are mixing continents in your fish list: North America (CA), South America, and Africa. Most of those fish are pretty hardy; perhaps the Uaru is the "softest" of the list. The convicts and rainbows come from very hard and alkaline water. The others come from neutral to soft (or very soft in the case of Uaru).
I suggest you pick a environment and stick to it, fish and all. It sounds like you have a bunch of driftwood, so a SA tank might work for you. Throw in some geos, and you've got the anaerobic sand issue more than handled (they will turn it over several times a day!). In fact, if you do keep geos you almost HAVE to use sand to make them feel comfortable. You should really only have enough to fully cover the bottom in there anyway, so pockets shouldn't become a problem in a shallow layer. As an alternative, pool filter sand gives the same look and is easier to maintain as you can vacuum it.
As far as plants go, one or more of the vallisneria species would be a good choice. They are hardy and grow quickly. They are native to just about any cichlid environment you choose too.
