Aragonite or Crushed Coral for buffering pH for freshwater tank?

[888fish]

Aragonite or Crushed Coral for buffering pH for freshwater tank?
Currently using some crushed coral in nylon bags in canister filter, not getting the the job done. Considering adding more coral and increase flow rate with my FX5. I live in San Francisco.

So Aragonite or crushed coral, or combo?

Many Thanks!!!!

 

[Rayne]

Both help to raise pH values and buffer the tank. Argonite contains calcium carbonate minerals which are released and help to raise pH values to ~8.2. Crushed corals usually push pH values up to 7.6. So Argonite is better if you are aiming to reproduce a rift lake tank.

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/caribsea_substrates.php

 

[888fish]

So, I should use Eco-complete African substrate from Caribsea in mesh bags in my Fx5 canister? Gravel, or sand or in between?

I have Datnoids, Clown Loaches and Tigrinus. pH drops to 6 or slightly below. 180G, I change 70% water/week. Fish are getting big and tank overstocked.

Thanks.

 

[Aye Lex]

I currently have 4 Tanks each holding 1 Flowerhorn Cichlid I normally add some crushed Coral with the gravel to help with ph and to get the benefits that comes with using crushed Coral but now I purchased a bag of Aragonite caribsea my question is is it like the same thing as crushed Coral? Should I do anything different? And is it ok to use in my freshwater tank with my FHs ? Like I've used the crushed Coral is it like the same benefits?? Thank you for any replys?

 

[duanes]

Aragonite is basically finely crushed coral.
The smaller the grain that is crushed into, the faster it will dissolve (buffer), but in that same vein, the faster it will be used up.
I made DIY fluidized reactors to help buffer quicker.
Water was pumped into the aragonite to fluidize it.

Whenever I added new aragonite the water would turn a bit milky in color, as you can see above, in the tiny fry tank in line with the reactor,