Dark Substrate

[~T~]

I would like to convert my 40gal low light planted tank over to having a dark substrate.It currently has light pool filter sand in it.I'm open to all suggestions and personal experience if possible.I dont need/want it to be too deep as all my plants are attached to wood/decor although I may build the corners up with rocks/wood to make deeper planting areas.

My requirements are

Must be black or very dark(dark gray would do).
The colour must not come off(no painted or dyed substrates).
Can be gravel or course sand but not very fine grain sand.
Absolutely must not affect my ph(inert).
Must not be too expensive(although I will consider paying more if its worth the money).

Any ideas(links/pics/inexperiences).

Thank you

 

[fozziebear]

I would like to convert my 40gal low light planted tank over to having a dark substrate.It currently has light pool filter sand in it.I'm open to all suggestions and personal experience if possible.I dont need/want it to be too deep as all my plants are attached to wood/decor although I may build the corners up with rocks/wood to make deeper planting areas.

My requirements are

Must be black or very dark(dark gray would do).
The colour must not come off(no painted or dyed substrates).
Can be gravel or course sand but not very fine grain sand.
Absolutely must not affect my ph(inert).
Must not be too expensive(although I will consider paying more if its worth the money).

Any ideas(links/pics/inexperiences).

Thank you

lol i was going to say onyx sand, but that buffers your ph sorry i dont know.

 

[~T~]

How much does it buffer? I'm aiming for neutral to moderately hard water anyway as im gonna have apple snails who dont like it soft acidic.

 

[fozziebear]

How much does it buffer? I'm aiming for neutral to moderately hard water anyway as im gonna have apple snails who dont like it soft acidic.

hmm i think the packet says from between 0.1 to 0.5 but im using ph minus to keep my ph neutral, and its fine, ph is going down slowly, it looks theeee #### though its really nice stuff, but expensive, took me 5 bags for a 4 ft tank at 3.99 each

 

[~T~]

How much does it buffer? I'm aiming for neutral to moderately hard water anyway as im gonna have apple snails who dont like it soft acidic.

hmm i think the packet says from between 0.1 to 0.5 but im using ph minus to keep my ph neutral, and its fine, ph is going down slowly, it looks theeee #### though its really nice stuff, but expensive, took me 5 bags for a 4 ft tank at 3.99 each

Well thats actually more in my price range, I might give it a go.Do you have any pictures of your tank with it?

Thanks!

 

[fozziebear]

How much does it buffer? I'm aiming for neutral to moderately hard water anyway as im gonna have apple snails who dont like it soft acidic.

hmm i think the packet says from between 0.1 to 0.5 but im using ph minus to keep my ph neutral, and its fine, ph is going down slowly, it looks theeee #### though its really nice stuff, but expensive, took me 5 bags for a 4 ft tank at 3.99 each

Well thats actually more in my price range, I might give it a go.Do you have any pictures of your tank with it?

Thanks!

hmm i could take one for you, but unfortunately i have no lighting in my tank at the minute apart from moonlight LED's so it looks very dark, and my tank looks like crap at the minute as im still cycling and havent started anything else, but ill take a pic of it, some of its mixed with normal gravel though because of moving silk plants and stuff and doesnt look as good.

 

[fozziebear]

there it is... lol the corner of my tank, the onyx sand looks a bit shiny because i took it with the flash on but when its seen in person its a lot duller black.

 

[nicklfire]

Take a possiable look at eco-complete

Other features include: nitrate and carbonate free-will not increase pH or carbonate hardness; there are no artificial dyes, paints or chemical coatings; the natural black substrate encourages the most vibrant coloration in fishes and reduces fish stress; spherial grains for optimum diffusion performance; supplies calcium without raising the pH; lead free.

That's the darkest substrate i can think of (not my tank pic)

 

[iroc]

Just some advice, low loght tanks with black or dark gravel look VERYYYYYYYYYYY dark as the substrate no loger reflex's the light, I loved the look but it made my tank way to dark so I switched out to a light sand.

 

[plantbrain]

I would like to convert my 40gal low light planted tank over to having a dark substrate.It currently has light pool filter sand in it.I'm open to all suggestions and personal experience if possible.I dont need/want it to be too deep as all my plants are attached to wood/decor although I may build the corners up with rocks/wood to make deeper planting areas.

My requirements are

Must be black or very dark(dark gray would do).
The colour must not come off(no painted or dyed substrates).
Can be gravel or course sand but not very fine grain sand.
Absolutely must not affect my ph(inert).
Must not be too expensive(although I will consider paying more if its worth the money).

Any ideas(links/pics/inexperiences).

Thank you

I'd go with ADA aqua soil.
There's no reason to worry about pH effects, I'm not sure there are any real issues with pH itself, rather, much more with GH and mostly KH.

This is true for both plants and fish/inverts.
Cost about the same as Onyx and is cheaper than Eco complete, shipping is less than either of the two.

I've used all 3, and ADA AS wins hands down for a planted tank.
Cost is good, the appearance is good, the grain size is better, the plant's reaction is far better than either of the others, it'll never get caught in a scrub pad and scratch the glass, it's too soft to scratch glass.

Nice aesthetic appearance.
Unless you plan on Rift cichlids, I'd go with this, if you are choosing the Rift fish, then the Onyx sand is a nice option.

Note: onyx sand is namely iron rich CaCO3, it will raise pH(via KH....which goes back to the original point).

Plants like CO2, not some pH, same with fish, except their preferences are more related to KH, not CO2/pH.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[arif_93]

i would reccomend tetraplant substrate it deep dark brown and all u need to go is add a lay of gravel on top i used hagen black beach gravel

 

[Donkster]

Take a possiable look at eco-complete

Other features include: nitrate and carbonate free-will not increase pH or carbonate hardness; there are no artificial dyes, paints or chemical coatings; the natural black substrate encourages the most vibrant coloration in fishes and reduces fish stress; spherial grains for optimum diffusion performance; supplies calcium without raising the pH; lead free.

That's the darkest substrate i can think of (not my tank pic)

I'd second eco complete especially if you do decide to plant a bit in it.

 

[rdd1952]

Eco Complete if you want course material and Tahitian Moon Sand if you want sand. I have both in my tanks. I love the look of dark substrates. They bring out the colors in fish.

 

[anodized]

i went with carib-sea planted aquarium substrate, it's a little smaller grain than flourite, black and doesn't buffer.

 

[Arimus]

Stupid q - where can I get onyx sand from?

Looks just like what I need...