substrate

i was just just woundering if anyone has used crushed oyster shell the kind u get from the feed store for chickens as a substrate i was thanking of useing some of it with my new tank set up dont have anuff live substrate to make my beed as deep as i wont it was planing on washing it real good that way if thay add some sort of calcime additve to it i wont get it in the new tank

 

I used it back in the 70's, I think whaty is available now is far more favorable; and somewhere I read an adverse effect of using it.

 

The problem with large particle substrates like that is they trap a lot of waste. Look up the benefits and draw backs of a crushed coral substrate, and you will find tons of info on the subject. How deep are you wanting your sand bed?

Also, if you are wanting a deep sand bed, the crushed coral/oyster shells won't accomplish the goals of a deep sand bed as well as sand. If you need more sand, shoot me a PM, I've got tons.

 

There are two different brands of the crushed oyster shell you can use. Look up how to make your own reef rock and you should find both of them. My friend has made me a large rocks for my eel to hide in and he uses crushed up oyster shell to make it look more natural. I've had it in my tank for about 6 months now, and he has had a tank set up entirely of fake rock for 3 years now.

Now with that being said, as far as substrate goes things like crushed coral were originally used because they used an under gravel filter so sand clearly wouldn't work. Personally I feel that crushed coral should have died out when the under gravel filter did, but some people still use it and have success with it. I personally have better success with sand and prefer it for aesthetic purposes.

 

ya im jus going to use what sand i have and crushed coral i have in my old tank + im saveing all the water that i can that way my bio system will stay up