[Tikibirds]

I'm no expert but wouldn't something like Mopani wood lower the PH? The only tank I had issues with snails staying in their shells and eroding was the tank with the mopani. Finally I added shells and coral and it about a 7.2 or so the test strip says. Kinda hard to read but i have never seen a liquid PH test kit

The only type of filter that is a PITA with sand is the tetra whisper. If any gets into the impeller or whatever its called, it wont move. You need to rinse out the bottom part with the propellar thing to dislodge the sand. Then it will spin again.