Substrate

[Menders]

I know some people use coconut fiber only. Most use both sand and coconut fiber. And some use sand only. I am using play sand only. Is this okay? I had a very bad experience with a bacterial bloom when I used the mix. I decided to use sand only when setting up my new 30 gallon. I am starting to wonder of this was a bad idea. How do I keep it sand castle consistency? Ive noticed it drying a bit. I have a newly adopted crab down right now. I can poke my finger into the sand and it maintains a tunnel. Im just starting to worry. Any input is welcome and appreciated. I jist want to do a good job.

[kieagcarm]

I have issues with my humidity and keeping the sub at sand castle consistency, and I used to just have play sand. It was even worse for me then. I ended yup mixing in the ee and now I'm noticing it's drying on the top inch. If you figure it out please share your knowledge!! Lol

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[Menders]

Thank you for responding! Where is your UTH? That could be part of the issue. What is your humidity like?


Menders
5 PPs, 1 cat exotic short hair, 2 children and a wonderful husband

[aussieJJDude]

Its fine... Most just prefer the mix.
The important thing with sand is to not oversaturate... It not a good absorbent/adsorbent and water can pool quiet quickly if you tend to mist often. EE - or a mix - tend to release some of the excess moisture back into the air, qhich also helps with humidity.

[kieagcarm]

Thank you for responding! Where is your UTH? That could be part of the issue. What is your humidity like?


Menders
5 PPs, 1 cat exotic short hair, 2 children and a wonderful husband

My uth is on the back and just touches the sub, it's kinda close to the sw bowl but not the fw

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[NinjaPurgs]

I use pure EE aka coco fiber. I did switch to using a mixture of sand and EE but the sand dries the substrate out super fast and there was a huge risk of tunnel collapse, so I switched back to pure EE.

[kieagcarm]

I use pure EE aka coco fiber. I did switch to using a mixture of sand and EE but the sand dries the substrate out super fast and there was a huge risk of tunnel collapse, so I switched back to pure EE.

Do you make the ee moist?

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[NinjaPurgs]

I use pure EE aka coco fiber. I did switch to using a mixture of sand and EE but the sand dries the substrate out super fast and there was a huge risk of tunnel collapse, so I switched back to pure EE.

Do you make the ee moist?

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Yes, and because it is pure EE it holds the moisture much better. I also have large pools with airstones in them to help keep up the humidity levels. One thing I will also add is that if you use an UTH if it is close enough to the sub it will dry it out super fast, no matter what type of sub you use.