TM Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 Just planning out my next project and trying to decide on which substrate i am going to use. Plan at this stage is to build a 1000 x 500 x 550h aquarium made from 8mm low iron glass with polished edges, total water height will be 500mm. Size was based on where the tank could fit. Lighting will be either 4 or 6 39w T5's staggered to give a good spread of light. Selection of plants, driftwood, rocks etc with a few tetras. So the question really is what substrate do you all run, what do you like about it and would you use it again. Not wanting gravel more sand like. Is there a large range of colors out there? Any other comments welcome... Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 i like the look of plain river sand its grains run in size from tiny to very small gravel nice and natural looking also very cheap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 I too like the darker river sand. I have west coast beach sand which is a nice mix of dark. Fine sand creates a soft effect which I like IMT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted June 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 Thanks, i've spent a fair bit of time on the coast and have thought a few times of using the sand. Which are did you get yours from??? You could then pick what grain size you want to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 I got mine from Hokitika. Grain size is <1mm. It is powder fine. My loaches love it. It took ages to wash it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 I like dark substrate too as it shows the fish's colours more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 I like darker gravel too. I think its called Brightwater Gravel, but that's my favourite, best gravel ever IMO. Its the right size (not too big to clean, not too small to clump up) and has great dark colouration without looking fake. Trouble is you can't just hop down to the landscapers and buy 20kg of it. I always end up paying an outrageous amount for bags and bags and bags. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 I love Daltons Propagating Sand, beautiful and natural looking 8) I have recently set up an african tank and have used this black substrate that looks like black sand, put out by Aqua One... the fish looking stunning against it, coral rock and limestone look fantastic against the black also.. I have seen a planted tank with this used as the top layer and it looks fantastic against the green plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darrell Quadling Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 in my main tanks I still use undergravel filters coverd in a thin layer of fine fabric to stop the fines going through together with a can filter that gives me min 15 min all water pass through...then I use a layer of pumice sand from taupo..built up to 60mm in places with rocks...I am convinced the small pumice grains ( some up to 3mm ) help with the bio filter system...results are the water is GIN CLEAR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted June 22, 2008 Report Share Posted June 22, 2008 in my main tanks I still use undergravel filters coverd in a thin layer of fine fabric to stop the fines going through together with a can filter that gives me min 15 min all water pass through...then I use a layer of pumice sand from taupo..built up to 60mm in places with rocks...I am convinced the small pumice grains ( some up to 3mm ) help with the bio filter system...results are the water is GIN CLEAR Undergravel filters are totally underrated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted June 23, 2008 Report Share Posted June 23, 2008 in my main tanks I still use undergravel filters coverd in a thin layer of fine fabric to stop the fines going through together with a can filter that gives me min 15 min all water pass through...then I use a layer of pumice sand from taupo..built up to 60mm in places with rocks...I am convinced the small pumice grains ( some up to 3mm ) help with the bio filter system...results are the water is GIN CLEAR Doesn't pumice float? I'm confused! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted June 23, 2008 Report Share Posted June 23, 2008 I like darker gravel too. I think its called Brightwater Gravel, but that's my favourite, best gravel ever IMO. Its the right size (not too big to clean, not too small to clump up) and has great dark colouration without looking fake. Trouble is you can't just hop down to the landscapers and buy 20kg of it. I always end up paying an outrageous amount for bags and bags and bags. Yeah brightwater gravel is my favourite. Dark but not black - more of a dark charcoal colour. My perfect substrate would be a layer of Dalton's aquatic soil, followed by a layer or brightwater fine gravel, with a bit of pure laterite mixed in with the gravel. Shows the fish off perfectly, clown loaches can have fun digging (without stirring up clouds of sand), plants thrive in it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darrell Quadling Posted June 23, 2008 Report Share Posted June 23, 2008 Doesn't pumice float? I'm confused! I have found the smaller grains if collected 'wet' do not float.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted June 23, 2008 Report Share Posted June 23, 2008 I have found the smaller grains if collected 'wet' do not float.. There is quite a bit of it sitting on the bottom of the lake at the moment. You can also boil it and it should sink also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.