what substrate for new tank?

[teknikz]

i pick my new tank up 2moro.....what shall i use for the substrate

Tek

also what plants shall i use...for a community tank

 

[Graeme]

Sand!










Graeme.

 

[Mollymomma]

I wish I had used sand... go with sand

 

[LesGerber]

sand by all means


Les

 

[steve-0]

I wish i could use sand but nobody carries it here. can you use play sand or sand found at a hardware store?

 

[Feline]

I wish I'd used sand too! I have no knowledge with aquatic things when I bought the tank, so I took the advice given by the salesperson in the petshop which is to buy medium sized gravel. But I don't quite like it ...

Have a question tho: If using sand, how to clean/vacuum away the wastes from fishies?

 

[Jamnog]

so long as u rinse it and it carries no addatives then any sand will do. i think play sand is fine like i say rinse it a few times as its mega dusty when you put it in you may need to do a 100% water change allmost straight away. its not easy but its beutiful to look at.

 

[DMK]

I used sand when i first got my tank, wish i haden't it stunk after a few weeks. I cleaned the sand as best possible but with a fair few rocks and bogwood in there it is hard to. I had to get rid of it as the smell was getting a little nasty and the missis started moaning )

Any idea's as to why this happens and how best to resolve the problem as i do like sand better than gravel?

 

[Jamnog]

glade plugin perhaps i havent noticed the smell but then i havent had it long before when i had it i left the window open and the tank shut. the condensation from the tanks can sometimes get a bit much.good ventalation is important to me with my tanks.

 

[DMK]

I am sure the smell was coming from air being trapped under the sand and the sand compressing, i tried stirring, airstones amongst a few other things but none seemed to work.

 

[LesGerber]

I have never had a problem with my sand stinking, but then again when ever I do a water change I stir the sand up so I can vac the crude. That may be the reason why it doesnt stink......I dont know. Yes sand is more of a pain than gravel, and you have to work with it a bit more, but the end result IMHO is smashing.

As far as what sand to use most can go to any Wal Mart store and buy some of the play sand they carry. Its like 2.20 USD and all you have to do is wash it good.

HTH


Les

 

[Andyman1]

Use pea sized gravel - you can get it in virtually any colour - with some larger pebbles (again whatever colour) and some nice rocks and bogwood.

 

[impur]

If you plan on having plants i believe its best to put a layer of laterite under the sand. This is what i gather from reading the plant forums. It gives the plants fertilizer i think. No idea where to get it though sorry.

I am planning on planting my tank next. I love the way they look. As far as cleaning i think the trick is to hold the vacuum tube just above the surface enough to vacuum up the waste, uneaten food etc., and not suck up any sand. I don't think the waste sinks to far into the sand at all.

HTH

 

[teknikz]

well i took delivery of my tank today and went on the hunt for my substrate and after talking to 5 different 'aquatics' ppl they all suggested i go for gravel

they all said sand looks tops but its a bugger to clean and u can get a smell from it

the gravel i got is made from clay....no lime in it and all phosphates and nitrates n bad stuff have been removed.....its gots holes in it too which, apparently, is brilliant for plant growth as the roots can breathe and the roots grow thru the holes and anchor down better

shame it cost 20 notes tho for just 15 kilo's but hopefully it does the job.....looks quite nice too coz its fairly small.....took 2 hours to wash tho....and my water is still cloudy

Tek

 

[Flippin'thing bit me eye]

Try arrogonite(sic) I have it in a mixed tang tank, heavier than sand but same colournand just a little larger.
Oh and a good way of making sure you dont get yukky build ups under yer sand is a horse faced loach or anything that'll turn the substrate, shrimps are good too.