MRSkz Posted November 21, 2006 Report Share Posted November 21, 2006 BN are fine on normal sand (i have em in my planted on sand) but they do dig in it sometimes. that might be a problem if you have stacks of rocks- wouldnt want them to topple a heap over and come home to a dry tank and a wet floor Actualy the problem with the rocks falling over is with the cichlids, in my case. I've never had any problem with my B/N's causing caves to collaps. My blue zebras, however, have caused many a cave in. I've had the odd B/N come out with a bit of a scratch from the Malawi's digging but other than that they seem to love the sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted November 21, 2006 Report Share Posted November 21, 2006 Hiya We keep rather a few Africans, we use Aragonite as substrate, white and rather classy in our set ups, also helps buffer. Even tho light substrate can wash the fish out a bit, this hasn't happened in our case, our fish are as bright as anything and look great... Good Luck and keep us posted on your choice Here are a couple of pics of the substrate, we have only just recently shifted the tank to our bedroom and set it up again, yet to top the tank up as you can see and it needs some fine tuning :lol: Mekhaela Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquab Posted November 21, 2006 Report Share Posted November 21, 2006 Mekhaela, can you tell me what fish is second up from the bottom in the left corner of the bottom pic? A very dark blue/ purple with a white line on it's top fin. my LFS has one but she wasn't sure what it was!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted November 21, 2006 Report Share Posted November 21, 2006 Hiya Hes a Royal Blue Peacock, just starting to really show his colour. Mekhaela Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meesheelly Posted November 21, 2006 Report Share Posted November 21, 2006 to get around the falling rocks i was told to put polystyrene in the tank then the rocks on that and then the substrate. It means fishes cant dig under the rocks. I also spent hours finding a spot for each rock so they are al really stable. I havent had any problems so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herefishiefishie Posted November 21, 2006 Report Share Posted November 21, 2006 Touch wood, I haven't had any rocks fall. I have had one or 2 tip over, but on onto the sand or rested on another rock. Frenchy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burgo Posted November 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2006 I second that. What an amazing setup. Wish my beloved would let me set a tank up like that in the bedroom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowfax Posted November 22, 2006 Report Share Posted November 22, 2006 its awesome alright!!! i wish i had room in my bedroom for any sized tank!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted November 22, 2006 Report Share Posted November 22, 2006 Thanks guys Yet to send more pics when it is finished... Ummm hmmm errr we don't exactly have room in our bedroom, we just made room, out goes the rest of the bedroom suite that came with the bed to accomodate the tank oh plus another one for our Jurapari :lol: :lol: :lol: Awesome to lay and watch them at night before lights out.. Mekhaela Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burgo Posted November 28, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 28, 2006 Can I use 3-5mm lime chip instead of coral sand as the price of the sand is extremely high and the lime chip should give almost the same look. My only concern is the PH levels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted November 28, 2006 Report Share Posted November 28, 2006 Hi There According to information that we have studied, lime chip is another form of calcium carbonate, but sometimes it can contain traces of heavy metals ie. copper etc... depending on where it comes from. We stick with Aragonite (marble chip) It can be found in Auckland at roughly $40 per 25kg. That is the substrate in our above pics of our Malawi tank. Mekhaela Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meesheelly Posted November 28, 2006 Report Share Posted November 28, 2006 I have lime chip and have no problems with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted November 28, 2006 Report Share Posted November 28, 2006 That is great that you have no problem with it, as I stated above it CAN have other trace elements etc in it, depending on where it has come from. Mekhaela Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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