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	sand, egg crate & anaerobic gas
johnsmith Enthusiast Posts: 166 Kudos: 144 Votes: 0 Registered: 13-May-2004	I'm setting up my tank for cichlids, but the thought just occured to me that since I'm using egg crate to support the rock structure, there's no way sand under there will get stirred around. I don't really want to look at the rock sturcture and see egg crate, so could this cause a problem with anaerobic gas or would that not be a problem if the sand is shallow enough? Are there any other solutions?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:27
Babelfish Administrator Small Fry with Ketchup Posts: 6833 Kudos: 8324 Votes: 1570 Registered: 17-Apr-2003	Not sure if malaysian trumpet snails would be eaten by cichlids...or if they're even compatible ph wise, but they might be one way to go. I'm assuming that the rock structure is something you dont want to move? If it was something easy to move all it takes is stirring the sand every few weeks... ^_^
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:27
johnsmith Enthusiast Posts: 166 Kudos: 144 Votes: 0 Registered: 13-May-2004	Yeah, I definitely don't want to be moving the rock structure as I've read julies can get very upset when their caves are rearranged. I think I'll just go for it and hope the julies will stir things around enough to keep everything in check. thanks
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:27
inkodinkomalinko Fish Guru Posts: 2441 Kudos: 833 Registered: 18-Jan-2003	I read that Ken/Keegan Armke (from Armke's fish) uses sand with UGF filters. What he does is he uses a very fine holed mesh to cover the places that he wants to cover, and puts sand over it. I think this is the way to prevent the gas spots. Scroll down a little and you'll find the part about the Sand and UGF http://www.ohiexchange.com/armke/
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:27
Racso Mega Fish Some Assembly Required Posts: 1163 Kudos: 1442 Votes: 35 Registered: 19-Feb-2002	MTS are fine as I have a lot in my malawi set up. I now have a bunch and I am finding more and more every day. From what I was told, the MTS would dig through the sand enough that I wouldn't have to worry about stirring the sand around at all.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:27
FRANK Moderator Posts: 5108 Kudos: 5263 Votes: 1690 Registered: 28-Dec-2002	Hi, Most of the egg crate that I've seen is about a half inch high. IF you keep the sand depth, I'd say, not more than another 1/4 inch thicker than the crate, and used white crate, that should not be so thick that the anaerobic bacteria will grow to cause any problems. The use of MTS might not work as the "cells" within the egg crate are only a half inch square, too small for them to do any "serious work," but you might want to give 'em a try. Frank -->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:27
johnsmith Enthusiast Posts: 166 Kudos: 144 Votes: 0 Registered: 13-May-2004	I've ended up using gravel & egg crate under the rock pile instead of sand. I'm sure the gas wouldn't have been a problem, but I had extra gravel anyways. Thanks
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:27


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