Joe Posted September 19, 2012 Report Share Posted September 19, 2012 Hey everyone, I only have enough gravel to put in to one of my breeding tanks. Apistogramma trifasciata will go in one, and Licorice Gouramis will go in the other. From what I have been reading about Licorice Gouramis, it is important that they have a dark substrate. So I am going to put them in the tank with gravel. Both tanks have white polystyrene underneath, which of course will reflect a bit of light upwards in the tank without gravel. Will the trifasciata be okay in this tank, or should I look at getting some sort of substrate? Thanks, Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted September 20, 2012 Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 might be a good idea to paint the bottom of the tank, I've found with cockatoos that they like a darker bottom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted September 20, 2012 Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 I would think its more important for the apisto's because they live at the bottom and there nature is to sift through fine gravel or sand. Just get some fine river sand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted September 20, 2012 Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 from watching the licorice I have in the shop they like to forage in among the stones, kinda like puffers pecking for snails, plus they a bit shy, so anything to make them more comfortable. should be able to source a bit of sand from bunnings etc for cheap enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted September 20, 2012 Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 should be able to source a bit of sand from bunnings etc for cheap enough $6 for 25L last time I checked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted September 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 Thanks guys! I will try and get some sand then So far, I've bought sand from Mitre 10 and from Centaland and in both cases the sand had bits of clay all through it, making clear water impossible We have just had a new Bunnings built so I will go there and check out their sand :thup: At the moment they will have to put up with the bare bottom tank. I had to move them out of the 140L because I wanted to release the male cacatuoides from the net breeder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 20, 2012 Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 How much do you need? I have various substrates here and some sand as well (somewhere) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted September 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 About 2-3cm to cover an area of 50x45cm. Do you have any spare of that dark gravel that you use in your planted tank? If so that would be ideal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted September 20, 2012 Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 The sand I have is Results Builders Sand and it takes a while to get the water to run clear but it's good stuff when it's clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted September 20, 2012 Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 They are best off with a thin layer of fine sand, but you can paint the bottom of the tank black and thru seem to settle quite well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 20, 2012 Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 You will have to come and search Joe. Everything has been moved for painters, builders etc. I know there is a bucket of some sort of gravel in the garage as I saw it this morning. The stuff that was in the 3ft is here somewhere (and it was fine and dark) plus I have some like in the 4ft (I think) plus some fruit salad somewhere that someone gave me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted September 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 I am not painting the bottom of the tanks. I had considered it, but those tanks cost quite a bit and are of awesome quality and I don't want to ruin them :lol: Also it's extra work and I will have to drain them and move the fish out. I've just bought a $7.00 25L bag of Builders Sand from Bunnings. If it is no good for my aquariums, mum said that she'll buy it off me and use it for the garden :thup: I'll come and have a look on the weekend then Caryl. Thanks so much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#!CrunchBang Posted September 20, 2012 Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 Could get a coloured sheet of card and put it under Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted September 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 That's actually what I was thinking of doing originally My only concern is that it might get wet if water dribbles down the tank... :dunno: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted September 20, 2012 Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 even just a brown towel would work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godly3vil Posted September 20, 2012 Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 I just use old black sheets. Or even a sheet of plastic will do but you would still be better off using sand, since I put my trifasciata in the big tank with sand substrate they seem way happier and show alot better colours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 20, 2012 Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 Joe I have a 10kg bag of black, fine substrate that has a sparkle to it. It came with a tank I bought once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted September 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 Cool I'll come and check it out :thup: Just wondered is it the stuff that was in that smaller tank that you had running at one stage with the swordtails and longfin bristlenose? I think it might have been this: http://www.petstuff101.co.nz/Products/1 ... ravel.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted September 20, 2012 Report Share Posted September 20, 2012 No, different stuff but the other will be around somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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