Coral Sand !?

Courtney · 03-15-2005, 12:32 AM

A little over 2 months ago, I added Coral Sand ( Crushed Coral ) a 10 LB bag to my 20 Gallon tank, and before then my fish were scratching a little bit but like normal, and since the coral sand was added they have began to scratch horribly, and some have died mainly my guppies and dojo's and my cories, I was wondering Could the coral sand be causing this? I added it because i had snails in my tank, and i wanted them to thrive but i had to take my snails out and put in my moms tank, because my DP's were killing them ( dwarf puffers)...I have googled it, but each time i have came up with nothing, so i was hopeing some one on here could possibly help me...

I dont know my parimeters, because i do not have a test kit, and yes next month i will be getting one, hopefully soon i will get to the LFS to test it, so please dont say "you NEED to get one"

Thanks

**Damon** · 03-15-2005, 06:25 AM

Without a test kit (which is a must as you already know) there is no way to tell you whats going on. If I had to guess I would say when you added the sand, whether it be on top of existing substrate or as a replacement, you killed off some if not most of the bacteria in your tank. This causes a mini-cycle. The increase in ammonia and nitrites could have killed the fish and weakened the others. Partial waterchanges is your best bet in any case.

**Fishfirst** · 03-15-2005, 10:36 AM

yes... coral sand will change your pH to one around a marine environment, which would cause scale/skin irritation. Have your water tested tomorrow by an LFS... they usually do it for free anyway.

**TheOldSalt** · 03-15-2005, 12:36 PM

I'm sorry; I must have missed something.
You put the crushed coral in the tank to get rid of snails which you then moved to another tank anyway?

Unless the water is now milky white, it's not the current cause of your fishes' distress. Disease is a much more likely culprit, aggravated by the stress you caused the fish by suddenly jacking up their pH about ten points.

Courtney · 03-15-2005, 05:18 PM

the coral sand was to help the snails. i had to move them because they werent doing very well, and my dwarf puffers where killing them..

**Fishfirst** · 03-15-2005, 06:20 PM

like I said... get your water tested by your LFS

Courtney · 03-16-2005, 10:53 AM

I did, and the Coral sand is killing my fish off... I trust what she tells me, no i didnt get the numbers but she knows what she is talking about cause she has worked there many years..

03-15-2005, 12:32 AM	#1
Courtney Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Rogers, Ohio, USA Age: 25 Posts: 260 User Feedback: (1)	Coral Sand !? A little over 2 months ago, I added Coral Sand ( Crushed Coral ) a 10 LB bag to my 20 Gallon tank, and before then my fish were scratching a little bit but like normal, and since the coral sand was added they have began to scratch horribly, and some have died mainly my guppies and dojo's and my cories, I was wondering Could the coral sand be causing this? I added it because i had snails in my tank, and i wanted them to thrive but i had to take my snails out and put in my moms tank, because my DP's were killing them ( dwarf puffers)...I have googled it, but each time i have came up with nothing, so i was hopeing some one on here could possibly help me... I dont know my parimeters, because i do not have a test kit, and yes next month i will be getting one, hopefully soon i will get to the LFS to test it, so please dont say "you NEED to get one" Thanks

03-15-2005, 06:25 AM	#2
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982 User Feedback: (0)	Re: Coral Sand !? Without a test kit (which is a must as you already know) there is no way to tell you whats going on. If I had to guess I would say when you added the sand, whether it be on top of existing substrate or as a replacement, you killed off some if not most of the bacteria in your tank. This causes a mini-cycle. The increase in ammonia and nitrites could have killed the fish and weakened the others. Partial waterchanges is your best bet in any case. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

03-15-2005, 10:36 AM	#3
Fishfirst Fish Guru Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Soon to be Northern Wisconsin Age: 24 Posts: 3,501 User Feedback: (1)	yes... coral sand will change your pH to one around a marine environment, which would cause scale/skin irritation. Have your water tested tomorrow by an LFS... they usually do it for free anyway. __________________ 210 Gal Reef w/ 55 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 125 Gal Fish Only, 65 Gal Seahorse-29 Gallon Sump, 55 Gal FOWLR, 54 Gal Corner FW Community, 20 Gal Nano FOWLR, 55 Gal Piranha, 29 gallon QT "All the yellow tangs and clownfish in the world can't save you now! hahahah" Peter from Family Guy

03-15-2005, 12:36 PM	#4
TheOldSalt Darth Ichthyos Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,234 User Feedback: (6)	Re: Coral Sand !? I'm sorry; I must have missed something. You put the crushed coral in the tank to get rid of snails which you then moved to another tank anyway? Unless the water is now milky white, it's not the current cause of your fishes' distress. Disease is a much more likely culprit, aggravated by the stress you caused the fish by suddenly jacking up their pH about ten points.

03-15-2005, 05:18 PM	#5
Courtney Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Rogers, Ohio, USA Age: 25 Posts: 260 User Feedback: (1)	Re: Coral Sand !? the coral sand was to help the snails. i had to move them because they werent doing very well, and my dwarf puffers where killing them..

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03-15-2005, 06:20 PM	#6
Fishfirst Fish Guru Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Soon to be Northern Wisconsin Age: 24 Posts: 3,501 User Feedback: (1)	like I said... get your water tested by your LFS __________________ 210 Gal Reef w/ 55 Gallon Sump/Fuge, 125 Gal Fish Only, 65 Gal Seahorse-29 Gallon Sump, 55 Gal FOWLR, 54 Gal Corner FW Community, 20 Gal Nano FOWLR, 55 Gal Piranha, 29 gallon QT "All the yellow tangs and clownfish in the world can't save you now! hahahah" Peter from Family Guy

03-16-2005, 10:53 AM	#7
Courtney Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Rogers, Ohio, USA Age: 25 Posts: 260 User Feedback: (1)	Re: Coral Sand !? I did, and the Coral sand is killing my fish off... I trust what she tells me, no i didnt get the numbers but she knows what she is talking about cause she has worked there many years..

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