Substrate confusion!!

[veeneck]

Hi everybody, I am verrrry

confused about substrates. I have several books (one by Ad Konings in particular) that contain

warnings not to use coral sand substrate for Africans, especially mbuna. He says it's

unnatural, causes gill irritation and washes out their colors.

Before I read this, my

local fish store guy set up an 80 gallon tank for me with coral substrate. I want to use this tank

for my Frontosa and other Tangayikan species. Trouble is, I have a lot of mbuna in my 55 who are

used to regular ol' gravel. II was going to put them in with the Tangayikans, but now I am

afraid to do it!

Any advice, fish experts?

Thanks in advance,

Victoria

[fishmaven]

There's another

thread, current, that discusses this. Do a search (upper right of your screen) here on "newbie

to Africans." Dan

[bobrfish]

If Ad says it, it is true.

However, I have kept mbuna and other African cichlids on crushed coral without noting gill

irritation. Maybe they have it but I have not noted it.

The theory behind using crushed

coral is that the coral dissolves adding hardness in form of calcium and buffer in the form of

carbonate to the water. Most Africans prefer water that has higher hardness and pH than found in

some water supplies.

[number6]

I've used crushed coral

and aragonite and it does not truly affect the fishes colour. That is, when moved to a tank with

darker substrate, colour will instantly change.

I have not seen any irritation of skin,

gills or anything of that sort.

[Marco Arroyo]

You are right Bob, the

main porpouse of the crush coral is that it works as a buffer maintianing the water hardness that

african cichlids needs, but i got to tell you, that for me, its better to use aragonite sand,

because it have the same effect as crush coral, but the adventage is that the fish will not have

the problem of skin irritation because of the sharper edge of the corals.

[bobrfish]

I bought crushed coral during

first couple of years in hobby. I would not buy it again.

I still use it in about six

tanks but need to replace it. Laziness.