Crushed Coral in fresh water?

[tmtpowers]

I was told by several people that I can add crushed coral into a media bag and place it in my HOB filter to help keep my ph stabilized for my fish and snails. We are getting the Proper PH 7.5 to bring my ph from 6.8/7.0 to 7.5.
Is the crushed coral a good idea? If so, how much do I need to put into my 55g?

 

[liv2padl]

what's your kH? without knowing that, it's difficult to answer your question. my first inclination is to tell you to stop messing with your ph in the first place. there's absolutely nothing wrong with a pH of 6.8 and there's no magic about a ph of 7.5. your fish will not notice the difference but your water will not be stable unless your kh is high enough.

 

[tmtpowers]

I want my PH up to 7.5 for my snails. If its not in the correct rang, then their shells will show that. My KH is at 71.6ppm My Gh is only at 53.7

 

[liv2padl]

in that case, crushed coral will increase both your Calcium and your Carbonate (kH) along with the pH ... just what your snails want.

 

[tmtpowers]

But how much should I add. The tank also has fish in it:

11 neon tetras
5 Red Tailed Dalmatian Platies
3 Dwarf Sunset Coral Platies
5 albino cory cats
1 dwarf gourami
3 sunburst platies
3 african dwarf frogs
1 female betta
1 male betta

Tomorrow our blue, purple, and pink snails will be arriving along with a Giant canas Apple snail but he isn't going into the 55G tank.

 

[liv2padl]

there's no way to tell in advance, how much coral will work in your particular tank. it depends on your water chemistry. i'd start with a cup and see what happens after two days. then adjust accordingly.

 

[LunchBox]

what he said ^

it's always better to start smaller and see if you need to add more than to start big and overdo things and try to get them back down

 

[hmt321]

I could be wrong but i was under the impression that you could not add to much crushed coral, as you kh gets higher it will leach less and less calcium out of the water.

is this right?

 

[LunchBox]

don't know if I'd agree with that since crushed coral will increase your ph as well as your kh, and you don't want to swing it too far up if you know what I mean.

 

[Cfortunato]

I place crushed coral in a stocking and keep in under the gravel. That way I can remove it, add more, etc, and I don't have to have a white substrate. I never thought of putting in in the filter. But, yes, you can add too much.

Although pH doesn't have much of an effect on the fish, pH swings can. I like to try and get my pH to match my tap water, so I can do large water changes, if necessary, and not worry about sudden pH changes.