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Reptile sand for substrate?

8K views 7 replies 5 participants last post by  herefishy 
#1 ·
I am planning to get Kuhliis and I want to get sand. The quesiton is, will reptile sand, stirred by an army of MTS, be safe to use for plants? I really want to be able to leave my anubias rooted where I want to keep it. I know some people think that Anubias roots don't improve growth but I do. Being able to leave the largest Anubias I have in place and not remove it would be a huge bonus as my Nana growth 3 times faster when it can take root and stays put.

I have now: Bacopa caroliniana, Ludwigia, Crypt Lucens, Nana and Afzelli Anubias, H. difformis. Will be getting a bunch of other plants soon.

Also, My LFS keeps telling me that small gravel is fine for Kuhliis but everyone recommends sand. Is it that the Kuhliis prefer it or is it prefered by the keeper? I imagine that the Kuhliis have an easier time getting into and out of sand but would it be safer to use fine gravel as it would allow for circulation and maybe prevent the kuhliis from being killed if they hit a dead spot?
 
#4 ·
Re: Reptile sand for Kuhliis?

fish_4_all said:
My LFS keeps telling me that small gravel is fine for Kuhliis but everyone recommends sand. Is it that the Kuhliis prefer it or is it prefered by the keeper? I imagine that the Kuhliis have an easier time getting into and out of sand but would it be safer to use fine gravel as it would allow for circulation and maybe prevent the kuhliis from being killed if they hit a dead spot?
Kuhlis love to bury under sand hence the keeper goes for sand to satisfy the kuhlis although fine gravel works just as well. The additional MTS may prevent any resulting dead spots.
 
#5 ·
I have kept khulies in both sand and gravel. I started them off with gravel, and found them to be much less active and hid away a lot. When I changed to sand the difference was amazing. They love to dig about, and come out in the open much more than they did previously. As for dead spots, to avoid this just rake through the sand at each water change with a plastic fork.
 
#6 ·
Just recieved a phone call from my lfs guru. He ditto'd Wolfs reply. He said that a fine silica sand would suffice. He also added that laterite, or some other substrate additive, may also be added for the plants without harming the loaches.

Herp sand would be ok for a Rift Lake tank of cichlids and other species from that area.
 
#7 ·
Just to make sure, the GH, KH and pH are gonna go up which is no big deal for plants but the Kuhliis may not like it, correct?

The main reason I asked about dead spots is because I got spots even using my standard clown puke gravel that would release air when I did a gravel vac. 90% of them were around or actually under the plants. None if it was smelling bad so I assume it is just air and not sulfur. Will sand make this worse or will between the plant roots, the MTS and the Kuhliis, as well as stirring what I can, keep any anarobic spots from forming?
 
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