Aqua Oak 330L planted tank

[martoneuk]

I'm using Argos play sand.

The API kit reads PH at 8.0 but the Tetra Test Strips read 7.2

Bit confusing.

[TropicalFishForums]

[Drunken horse]

I used Argos playsand in one of my tanks in the past.  Make sure you stir it reguarly  it traps waste in it which if left alone can build and form gasses which can poison the fish once it breaks back out.

Stirring it releases the waste and also stops any gasses building up to dangerous levels for fish

[martoneuk]

Could anyone recommend any bottom dwelling fish that will help with this issue? Something that will stir up the sand and be compatible witth tetras and potentially gourami.

[Drunken horse]

Not a fan of buying fish to do a job because they dont really do it so well.   But Horse faced loach  get to about 20 cm and bury themselves in the sand  leaving just their heads sticking out.  Funny things.   Snails do a good job of stirring sand provided you dont have any snail eaters (like loach)

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[plankton]

Malaysian Trumpet snails. Don't overfeed the fish and you should keep them in check.

[martoneuk]

Malaysian Trumpet snails. Don't overfeed the fish and you should keep them in check.

Just been reading about these, how many would you recommend purchasing for a 300L tank?

[martoneuk]

Reading more it seems they aren't great in soft water so I may have to leave them, I'll just stir the sand up myself, which will result in a wet armpit unless I fashion a device.............

I also got a spray bar for my filter, seems to be working ok. Struggling to find a position for my eheim streamon 5000, cant seem to move keep the flow going without spraying sand everywhere! 

[chesterjohn]

I added extra holes into my spray bar to distribute the flow better. The default holes point across the top of the tank from one side to the other and create a small agitation on the surface. Then I have some pointing about 30 degrees down from that and some a further 30 degrees. This makes all my plants sway slightly (except the one in the corner under the spray bar).

[plankton]

A stick is better than getting your arm wet. It could even be a plastic one
If you pop a small piece of cuttlefish "bone" (used for budgies' beaks) in - boil it first to make it sink - that will provide calcium for the snails to keep their shells.