Frequent Aquarium Questions

• I'm converting my saltwater tank to freshwater. Is aragonite a good substrate for freshwater fish?
  
  
• I have a 55 gal set up,which has been reset up due to moving. All my original fish died. I changed 50% of my water and let the tank run for 1 month. I introduced new fish and they also died. Water tests are fine.
  
  
• How much substrate would you use in a 130 gallon tank to attain a 3" depth? How much would you need for a 125 gallon tank to attain a 2" depth?
  
  
• Is there any way to convert a 29 gallon reptile tank into a fish aquarium?
  
  
• I'm setting up a Malawi cichlid 55 gallon tank with aragonite substrate. However, I can't get a clear answer on the media size. What size should I purchase?
  
  
• Can I use a hot glue gun to recreate a model of stonehenge in my aquarium? What kind of rocks do you recommend?
  
  
• Can I use tap water to start up a saltwater tank?
  
  
• I am thinking of starting a 10 gallon saltwater tank. Can you help me?
  
  
• Can I keep a ghost shrimp or an algae eater with the betta that I house in a glass vase with a peace lily?
  
  
• Why is sterilized sandbox sand that you can buy in a hardware store not suitible for fish to live in?
  
  

• I'm converting my saltwater tank to freshwater. Is aragonite a good substrate for freshwater fish?
  
  No, unless you are keeping African Cichlids.
  
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• I have a 55 gal set up,which has been reset up due to moving. All my original fish died. I changed 50% of my water and let the tank run for 1 month. I introduced new fish and they also died. Water tests are fine.
  
  There are always potential problems when you tear down an established tank and set it up again. I suggest you start with 2 damsels to repopulate your filter with biological bacteria, and see how they do. Maintain daily water tests.
  
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• How much substrate would you use in a 130 gallon tank to attain a 3" depth? How much would you need for a 125 gallon tank to attain a 2" depth?
  
  You'll need about 155 lbs of substrate for the 130 gallon and about 120 lbs. for the 125 gallon.
  
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• Is there any way to convert a 29 gallon reptile tank into a fish aquarium?
  
  Follow the manufacturer's recommendations and do not fill it completely with water. The walls are thinner, the bracing is not as sturdy, and the seals are not heavy-duty.
  
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• I'm setting up a Malawi cichlid 55 gallon tank with aragonite substrate. However, I can't get a clear answer on the media size. What size should I purchase?
  
  Media size for your setup is not crucial. It is a matter of taste. I prefer the smallest grade offered. Some like a mixture of both.
  
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• Can I use a hot glue gun to recreate a model of stonehenge in my aquarium? What kind of rocks do you recommend?
  
  No. Instead, use aquarium putty such as Two Little Fishies Aquastik to bind rocks together after rinsing them. The bond will not be that strong since the putty is usually used for gluing smaller rocks and corals to live rock. Freshwater rock options include slate, lava rock, zebra stone, and rainbow sand stone.
  
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• Can I use tap water to start up a saltwater tank?
  
  You can use tap water to set up a fish-only environment, assuming that it is normal municipal tap. If it is well water, you might have to purchase a reverse osmosis filtration system.
  
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• I am thinking of starting a 10 gallon saltwater tank. Can you help me?
  
  I would not recommend setting up a 10 gallon saltwater tank unless you plan on having a reef environment. If all you plan on keeping are fish, the 10 gallon is too small to keep the water environment stable.
  
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• Can I keep a ghost shrimp or an algae eater with the betta that I house in a glass vase with a peace lily?
  
  The Betta will attack the ghost shrimp. The vase is too small to house anymore fish.
  
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• Why is sterilized sandbox sand that you can buy in a hardware store not suitible for fish to live in?
  
  If it is a silica-based sand, you always risk nuisance algae growth. You must also be very confident that the sand is truly clean before it is introduced into the aquarium.
  
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