Pool Filter Sand. Plz help

I'm planning a German Blue Ram pair 29 gallon tank with 12 neon tetras or 8 Glowlight tetras, a pair of BN plecos, and 6 panda corys.
I'll be keeping the tank at 85 in the summer, 82 in the fall and spring, and 80 in the winter to mimic annual wild seasons.
Substrate is seachem fluorite sand with osmocote root tabs from ebay and a Quikrete pool filter sand cap. Aquaclear 50 for filtration with weekly 30 percent water changes and a Hygger full spectrum light for 12 hours.
I'll have a pretty heavily planted tank with low light to medium light beginner plants. I'll also be using easy green all in one fertilizer.

Anyways, I have a question about pool filter sand. I've heard that it gathers a lot of detritus and mulm on the bottom especially in deadspots. I've also heard that gas build up is harmful especially in sand.
Will the panda cories help with the dead spots and gas build up because they're scrounging around?

I also need help with stocking and compatibility. Will all my fish that I listed be able to withstand 85 degree temperatures? Will there also be any problems with the German Blue Ram pair and the plecos and cories because they're mostly bottom dwellers.

I didn't really know where to put this question so I just put it in this thread. It has like stocking, plants, etc. Someone please move it to a more appropriate thread.

 

The corys will constantly be moving around the sand looking for food, so that and regular maintenance should keep the sand looking alright. The panda corys shouldn't be in a tank with a temp higher of 78 or so. The only cory that comes to mind that can handle that high of heat are sterbais. But just check to make sure. I would also suggest you go with cardinal tetras as opposed to neons. IMO I have found them to be hardier than neons and they can live in much warmer water. If you really like bristlenose, I would only recommend 1. They just have such a high bio load and two in a 29 is pushing it. Also, I don't think the bristle noses would be able to handle the 85 degree temps, and even the 82 is pushing it. But overall, I really like the idea you have going and I can't wait to se how it turns out!

 

Why are you getting a pair of German blue rams or hoping the fish you get will become a pair? Are you intending to try and breed them?

Why are you getting a pair of BN .They will very likely breed if they are healthy and well feed. Are you intending to try and raise fry. ? I personally think a 29 gallon is a little on the small size for one adult BN let alone 150 fry with two adults breeding again in a couple of months.

Both the BN plecos and the corydoras are egg eaters and don’t understand to keep away from the egg food source provided by Rams.

I know of only one young person in my local club who talks of having an issue with gas under sand everyone else says far to much is talked about it on the internet and it’s nothing to worry about. At least not in a well maintained tank. Sand is to be deep vacuumed just like gravel the vacuum can be pushed down deep into the sand occasionally.

Maximum time for lighting is 8 hours with 7 being common.

 

I think you'll be fine with the sand. But what I really think is you have some temperature differences with your fish. You have the rams who like it hot with all fish that like it cool. You should either swap to Bolivian rams, or redo the stocking. Like cardinals vs neons, etc.

 

I agree that the quantity and temperature compatibility of your origin list raises eye brows. I'd recommend you play around with stocking on aqadvisor.com as a starting point, then repost a revised stocking list here so we can check for anything aqadvisor missed. Have you considered Bolivian rams or apistos instead of the Germans?

 

Prod the sand occassionaly with a chop stick or thin dowel. That will release any accumulated gass if you are worried. Thats a Walstead tip and I do it every so often when I remember.

 

Why are you getting a pair of German blue rams or hoping the fish you get will become a pair? Are you intending to try and breed them?

Why are you getting a pair of BN .They will very likely breed if they are healthy and well feed. Are you intending to try and raise fry. ? I personally think a 29 gallon is a little on the small size for one adult BN let alone 150 fry with two adults breeding again in a couple of months.

Both the BN plecos and the corydoras are egg eaters and don’t understand to keep away from the egg food source provided by Rams.

I know of only one young person in my local club who talks of having an issue with gas under sand everyone else says far to much is talked about it on the internet and it’s nothing to worry about. At least not in a well maintained tank. Sand is to be deep vacuumed just like gravel the vacuum can be pushed down deep into the sand occasionally.

Maximum time for lighting is 8 hours with 7 being common.

Yes I plan on breeding them but I will be taking the baby fry out after hatching

 

Ok then as you are going to let them breed you would be better off without the corydoras and the BN . While I have had a successful spawn in a tank with a BN i don’t recommend doing it. And corydoras are the enemy of egg laying fish . Corydoras are nocturnal (move around at night) enough to get the eggs when the rams are resting even if you leave a small light on the female ram has to sleep/rest sometime.

To breed rams I believe you need soft water? If you have soft water in your town then it would not be water best suited to cardinal tetras. Neon tetras would do well in the soft.

I wish you could luck breeding.

 

I agree that the quantity and temperature compatibility of your origin list raises eye brows. I'd recommend you play around with stocking on aqadvisor.com as a starting point, then repost a revised stocking list here so we can check for anything aqadvisor missed. Have you considered Bolivian rams or apistos instead of the Germans?

I went on AqAdvisor (thanks for the site btw. Didn't know about it) and it shows up as satisfactory.
Any fish anyone knows that can withstand 85 degree temperatures?

 

Uhhhh PFS is "designed" to let water through. The grains are same sized and rounded so it won't close down. Capping other sand with it I won't do, but the things you heared about PFS sinply aren't true / correct

 

Uhhhh PFS is "designed" to let water through. The grains are same sized and rounded so it won't close down. Capping other sand with it I won't do, but the things you heared about PFS sinply aren't true / correct

What do you mean by capping other sand with it? Can I not use it as a cap for the plant substrate?

 

What do you mean by capping other sand with it? Can I not use it as a cap for the plant substrate?

I am not a fan of capping anything.
But maybe others have more experience with that.