live reef sand -aragonite

vmustang

vmustang

New Member
I have some oscars/cichlids/plecos that I have had for several months, i just cleaned out all of the prior rock at bottom and replaced with sand, but didnt take the fish out, It was stupid as now I am concerned about my fish.
Please help. Very worried.
It is clearing up some and I have 2 filters, a fluval 2 and a regular filter that hangs off side.
I can only see corners and about 2 inches in all around. help!
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
The live reef sand that now has been put in freshwater has all kinds of dead tiny critters....the saltwater that comes with the sand is enough to poison the fish and change the PH entirely. Put your fish into freshwater ASAP...buckets and head for the fish store to get anything that will help to instant cycle the tank like a quarantine tank is set up. Never mix stuff that goes in a marine tank with stuff that goes with a freshwater tank. Not the same type of rock, sand or fish...they can not be mixed....each have their needs.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///t/391714/live-reef-sand-aragonite#post_3475515
The live reef sand that now has been put in freshwater has all kinds of dead tiny critters....the saltwater that comes with the sand is enough to poison the fish and change the PH entirely. Put your fish into freshwater ASAP...buckets and head for the fish store to get anything that will help to instant cycle the tank like a quarantine tank is set up. Never mix stuff that goes in a marine tank with stuff that goes with a freshwater tank. Not the same type of rock, sand or fish...they can not be mixed....each have their needs.
She's right. :D
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by vmustang http:///t/391714/live-reef-sand-aragonite#post_3475522
Premium marine substrate ok ? It's fine dry sand. This is for freshwater
I'll give that a no for most freshwater systems. The aragonite will slowly dissolve and make the water extremely hard. Most freshwater fish cannot tolerate this. There are a few exceptions.
My advice is to find a freshwater site.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by vmustang http:///t/391714/live-reef-sand-aragonite#post_3475522
Premium marine substrate ok ? It's fine dry sand. This is for freshwater
Hi,
I'm not trying to be mean, but you seem a bit hardheaded. If something says MARINE on it...it is for saltwater tanks ONLY.
I understand you want sand substrate....you can use sand designed for FRESHWATER fish (it is just a fine ground gravel). You CAN"T use sand designed for saltwater tanks. You must not mix the two. I have kept freshwater fish for 30+ years and saltwater fish for 10+. Go to your fish store and ask how to set up a planted tank, you might enjoy that more than gravel.
At this moment you have a serious problem...so for the moment concentrate on how to SAVE your fish....are they in buckets? If not...I'm done.
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
You could siphon out all of your sand that you have now and replace it with fluorite and mix it with a little silicate sand. Flourite is excellent for growing plants in.
 
vmustang

vmustang

New Member
I removed half of the water and nearly all of the live reef sand (that has organisms in it) the fish were removed in the process of doing this. Prior to me doing this, I did pour the live reek sand on top of the fish, which was a more than poor move on my part, but I have babysat them since to ensure their survival. As stated above, I removed the live reef sand and half of the water and then placed new sand in that is just fine sand from ***** for freshwater aquariums, The fish like it with the exception of our large oscar that has not been himself. He is constantly acting like he is on his last leg until we put in tablets, correct ph tablets/startzyme tablets and start right. After doing this he is fine the next morning as if nothing happened. He even started eating too. But then later in the night, he returns back to being deathly ill. What can I do?
 
rickross23

rickross23

Active Member
He sounds sick. I have kept Oscars and they are moody, yes, but easy to keep. Test your water. I think there may be something in the water, fo an Oscar to be doing this.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by vmustang http:///t/391714/live-reef-sand-aragonite#post_3477028
I removed half of the water and nearly all of the live reef sand (that has organisms in it) the fish were removed in the process of doing this. Prior to me doing this, I did pour the live reek sand on top of the fish, which was a more than poor move on my part, but I have babysat them since to ensure their survival. As stated above, I removed the live reef sand and half of the water and then placed new sand in that is just fine sand from ***** for freshwater aquariums, The fish like it with the exception of our large oscar that has not been himself. He is constantly acting like he is on his last leg until we put in tablets, correct ph tablets/startzyme tablets and start right. After doing this he is fine the next morning as if nothing happened. He even started eating too. But then later in the night, he returns back to being deathly ill. What can I do?
What is the PH?
 
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