recycled / tumbled glass for substrate???

[Magnum Man]

I'm looking at some glass to use as aquarium gravel... thoughts??? I would suspect beneficial bacteria would grow fine, but would think the surface area would be less than irregularly shaped perhaps porous regular gravel... anything I'm not thinking about... I'm sure I would have to wash it... but I did that with my polished black pebbles, & I removed all the fine sand from the last kind of pea rock I've been buying, anyway... looking at fire pit glass to use???

something like this...

Amazon.com

or

Amazon.com

 

[vince82]

Probably the worse kind of substrate in an aquarium in my opinion...
1) it's not natural, yes you do find it on beaches but that is because there is pollution, we throw stuff in the ocean that should not be there. Plastic is mostly inert, would you have a substrate of broken down bits of plastic?
2) they practically have the minimum surface possible of any other substrate. Not great for bacteria
3) I don't think it would be effective if you decide to get some plants
4) if you have a layer like 1 inch deep, it's gonna be difficult to clean the soft fine debris that will accumulate at the bottom of it
5) I don't like it

 

[10 Tanks]

Hello Magnum. You could use it. As long as it's polished and not too small. Polished would allow good aeration. Easy to vacuum if needed to remove uneaten food, fish waste or dead plant material. I would recommend using Eco Complete on the bottom and the glass material on top.

10 Tanks (Now 11)

 

[Byron]

This is not a good idea at all. The substrate is the basis of a healthy biologicalsystem--not the filter, but the substrate is more important. The reflective aspect of glass will stress fish. The large "particles" will develop bacterial issues which are detrimental to substrate fish if any are planned, but the upper fish don't faremuch better. The large whatever they are will allow food to get down out of reach, and the lack of adequate waste bacteria will not deal with it promptly, causing bacterial issues. And believe it or not, glass, even the glass panel on the bottom of the tank, is not smooth, and this is just as bad.

Sand is without question the best substrate all things considered. Soft, inert sand. Fine gravel is good in some situations, depending upon bottom fish. Avoid white or black.

 

[Alice B]

I'm looking at some glass to use as aquarium gravel... thoughts??? I would suspect beneficial bacteria would grow fine, but would think the surface area would be less than irregularly shaped perhaps porous regular gravel... anything I'm not thinking about... I'm sure I would have to wash it... but I did that with my polished black pebbles, & I removed all the fine sand from the last kind of pea rock I've been buying, anyway... looking at fire pit glass to use???

something like this...

Amazon.com

or

Amazon.com

there was a company pushing actual glass aquarium gravel 20 years ago. I think I kept their samples for art projects. If the edges are irregular, bottom feeders are likely to be injured, if very smooth, no bacterial adhesion. I wouldn't.

 

[10 Tanks]

Hello again. Polished glass substrate would look very nice on top of a dark, organic substrate like Eco Complete, Active flora or Fluval Bio. The bacteria colony could easily live on the organic material on the bottom and whatever type of filtration, decorations, rocks and driftwood you wanted to add. I'm seeing a potential tank project here. I really think Magnum is thinking "outside the box" and I like the idea.

10 Tanks (Now 11)

 

[sharkweek178]

How about a sand substrate with some glass pebble accent pieces?

 

[10 Tanks]

How about a sand substrate with some glass pebble accent pieces?

Hello. Now we're getting creative. I'm thinking a 55 gallon. My personal favorite sized tank. I have several.
Could be a winner on this forum.

10 Tanks (Now 11)

 

[Uberhoust]

I've tried ground glass. Approximately 16 mesh.

Very clean
Plants grew ok
Very light ie got sucked up easily
No surface porosity for bacteria

It worked well enough in a low stocked tank but was overall not that good. Light penetrates it causing algae where you cannot remove it. Looks interesting at first but then looks bad pretty quick. Tumbled would have less surface area so you would need more bacteria media. You might have issues with the plants staying rooted.

 

[10 Tanks]

I've tried ground glass. Approximately 16 mesh.

Very clean
Plants grew ok
Very light ie got sucked up easily
No surface porosity for bacteria

It worked well enough in a low stocked tank but was overall not that good. Light penetrates it causing algae where you cannot remove it. Looks interesting at first but then looks bad pretty quick. Tumbled would have less surface area so you would need more bacteria media. You might have issues with the plants staying rooted.

Hello. I'm thinking Anubias and Java Fern on the bottom. Neither needs to be planted. I use different sized rocks placed on top of the rhizsome. You can decorate with some pieces of driftwood and use dark cotton sewing thread to attach the Java Fern. The roots coming off the rhizome will grow into the bottom material. The organic bottom material under the glass substrate would provide good nutrients. I generally use, Anacharis, Hornwort, Indian Fern and Dwarf Water Lettuce for decorating the surface. Could be very nice. I'm thinking a "species only" tank with either Buenos Aires Tetras, Red Eyed Tetras or Zebra Danios. Maybe some Giant Danios. Can't forget a few Zebra Nerite Snails too. The colors would be striking!

10 Tanks (Now 11)

 

[Uberhoust]

In my opinion there is nothing wrong with glass substrate but it does have limitations. If you work with the limitations you should be ok