Sand vs Crushed Coral

[Robertshadow]

I have very little experience with sand, someone told me that it buffers ph better than crushed coral. I've mostly had my cichlids with cc bedding, it seems to hold the ph ok if I make a filter cartrage with some. (about the size of your typical gravel grain, maybe smaller.) Personally I like the look of sand though.

Ph buff wise, sand or crushed coral?

 

[rba718]

Not sure on either, I've always stuck with the regular cheap gravel. =\ I have heard though that crushed coral helps the water stay crystal clear.

 

[Onion01]

crushed coral is a better buffer

 

[JamesRiggs]

Crushed coral is a better buffer, most fish tend to like sand more though.

 

[Robertshadow]

Crushed coral is a better buffer, most fish tend to like sand more though.

Thought so Oh well. I kind of feel sorry for my sand sifters, and the front. They are always scooping up cc and and then spitting it out later. I think they want sift.

 

[Robertshadow]

Not sure on either, I've always stuck with the regular cheap gravel. =\ I have heard though that crushed coral helps the water stay crystal clear.

Probably from the salt it releases.

 

[JamesRiggs]

Thought so Oh well. I kind of feel sorry for my sand sifters, and the front. They are always scooping up cc and and then spitting it out later. I think they want sift.

You will see different fish with sand!

 

[jhutch]

I would use sand. Crushed coral doesn't really do much to buffer the ph unless you have an undergravel filter. The water needs to be pulled through the crushed coral to cause it to leach otherwise if you don't have an undergravel filter in the tank the crushed coral is just there for looks.

 

[dodgeman68]

Probably from the salt it releases.

clarity of your tank has little to do with what substrate you chose...like jhutch said if you arent running a ugf it will not buffer the water...crushed coral is better suited to be placed in your canister filter where water is constantly passed through it so it leeches into the water thus buffering your ph to a consistent level. you will find your fish will be much happier with a sand substrate as they love to play with it and dig in it...I use aragonite sugar sized oolitic sand and the mbuna I keep love it and so do I

 

[mike dunagan]

I love my PFS (pool filter sand) 3m is great too