Corals are not suitable for freshwater fish habitats, but people use them as an attractive substrate and decorative item. However, it has a few advantages that appeal to the fish keepers.
But, I suggest avoiding any live coral reef for your aquarium. In addition, they seem uncomplicated and harmless, but they are toxic to fish health.
Moreover, they increase water hardness immediately after their addition. A few fish can survive such dangerous environmental states and die.
Can You Put Corals in a Freshwater Aquarium? You can put dead corals in a freshwater aquarium that undergoes a nitrogen cycle of 3 to 9/weeks, add in hard water tanks, and apply epoxy costs to protect fish. Also, add crushed corals substrate by preventive parameters because it causes fish entrapping and food decomposition. However, you cannot put live corals in the tank because it produces toxic ammonia, lowers water pH, and decrease immunity with stress.
According to a survey of 300 aquarium owners, around 75% to 85% oppose the coral species.
However, around 10% to 15% of people add corals by preventive parameters and continuous monitoring.
My friend added different species of live coral reefs in his freshwater tank. But, he lost fish, aquarium plants, and entire habitat within a week. So, it is advisable to avoid the bold and bright corals because they increase water hardness quickly.
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How to add dead corals to a freshwater aquarium?
Generally, live coral reefs are toxic for tank water and tiny fish. But, you can add dead corals with a few precautions.
Moreover, you can add them while the tank completes the nitrogen cycle. In addition, the process is lengthy and takes around 3 to 9 weeks.
In this way, the excessive nitrogen and algae are removed from the aquarium. In such conditions, you can adjust the corals on the container without any problem.
Moreover, water maintenance and control are essential because they facilitate coral additions.
Check the condition of your tank water by different meters. You can add reefs in already hard water because it removes their harmful effects.
In addition, a few people adjust them in freshwater tanks with no water hardness. In these procedures, use epoxy coatings for your coral reefs.
Hide them inside the coating material and adjust the tank bottom. In this way, their sharp edges cannot injure the fish bodies.
Why do people add corals in their freshwater aquariums?
People add corals in aquariums despite multiple risks because they look good. I have mentioned four factors that lead to coral addition in freshwater containers.
Appealing appearance
They have bright colors with elongated spikes. They live and grow in hard water with maintenance and control.
The tank becomes colorful after adding appealing corals of different species. Moreover, their water movements attract fish and impact the swimming patterns.
It amuses the viewers from outside the fish tank. Moreover, they provide an appearance of natural habitat to freshwater fish.
In addition, they move around these reefs for long periods and improve their strength.
Fast growth
They are fast-growing things with long braches and other parts. But, adequate blue light is necessary for around 3 to 5 hours.
In addition, their placement determines the sizes because they require specific parameters. They spread on the substrate and cover the corners. As a result, the fish becomes comfortable and live with the live corals.
Hiding spots
The aquariums comprise fish, shrimps, crabs, and other aquatic pets. In addition, a few become furious and attack each other due to food competition.
In such circumstances, the corals prove as best hiding spots.
In addition, they have crannies and nooks that provide closing positions to tiny pets. Moreover, they keep them safe for several hours and protect their life from predators.
Peaceful habitat
Tiny pets require a peaceful environment for their growth and lifespan. The live coral reefs have different shapes and appealing colors.
In addition, they provide a peaceful living habitat to tank fish during the nights. Also, they balance the water parameters according to their size and species.
In addition, they make the tiny pets playful, and swimming conditions increases. As a result, the tank remains oxygenated, and it minimizes the toxic levels of harmful gases.
What are crushed corals, and why should you not add them to a freshwater aquarium?
They are a combination of small pieces of corals and limestone. In addition, people use them as a substrate for a natural-looking freshwater aquarium.
But, you cannot add them in crushed form because they are dangerous for fish life.
The size of crushed pieces varies, and the sharp edges harm the swimming fish.
The uneaten food particles and dirt grains entrap inside the large stones. The decomposition procedure leads to the development of nitrogen and ammonia.
In addition, the substrate requires regular maintenance, and control measures are strict. The cleaning procedures break the coral reef, and damaged pieces are harmful to tiny pets.
They dismiss the sand sifting aquatic animals due to the mega-size of particles.
Why should you not add live corals to a freshwater fish tank?
You should never add live coral reefs in your fish tanks without monitoring. Here are the details:
Toxic ammonia and nitrites
The live coral reefs pollute the tank water because they are water dissolvable. As a result, nitrites and ammonia add inside the water affect the fish gills.
In addition, it suffocates them, and a different allergy develops on their breathing organs.
In addition, it happens due to the gradual and continuous decomposition of live corals in the aquarium. Moreover, the degrading material releases high nitrites that affect fish health.
In such conditions, ammonia remains inside water for long hours and damages the entire fish habitat.
Alteration of water pH
The tiny creatures require a stable water pH for their survival and growth. The addition of dead or live reefs increases the water ph.
Also, it crosses the standard limits and harms fish health. In addition, freshwater fish cannot live in toxic water conditions and die. Therefore, take preventive measures and control the speedily increasing pH.
Damage of corals
They cannot survive in unfavorable water conditions, and decomposition happens. As a result, fish removes their waste material from them.
They produce harmful carbonates and lose their shape. Also, they terrify fish due to abnormal structures and floating particles.
A few tiny pets confuse them as feed particles. In addition, they engulf corals, and it leads to their death.
Increase water hardness
Dead corals are a significant source of carbonates and magnesium ions. In addition, they can dissolve in tank water and increase the hardness level.
Several aquarium fish cannot survive in such water conditions, and health issues develop.
Moreover, they are dissolvable corals and turn water into a danger zone.
In addition, a few of them produces toxic levels of coral bits that have dense carbonates. They change the tank water chemistry, and the tiny pets cannot survive such a dangerous environment.
Stress in fish
The fluctuation of water parameters is not beneficial for fish life. In addition, it affects their swimming activities and makes them sick.
Moreover, a higher pH changes the freshwater aquarium chemistry. In addition, it develops extreme stress in tiny pets. Also, they swim while harming their bodies.
In addition, they quit eating and hide behind different spots. As a result, the water parameters increase stress in fish more than the others and die frequently.
Lack of immunity
The addition of coral reef develops a compromised immune system in the tank creatures. In addition, they lose their ability to fight against viruses and bacteria.
As a result, they develop diseases and non-treatable allergies. In addition, the survival of healthy fish becomes challenging.
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