A.PROPHECY Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 hey just wondering whats the best substrate for an amzon tank? i was thinkn small dark pebbles, like small river rocks got any ideas let me kno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.PROPHECY Posted July 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 o and im goin for an amazon theme lol so i want the subtrate to look how it would in the amazon kinda.... lol nethn but mud and leaves tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke* Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 It is just peat and mud, leaves, silt, maybe some sand in the Amazon I believe. I use brightwater gravel it's called, small grade. It's pretty close to black, dark grey really. Or you could use a thin layer of black fine grade pool filter sand. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.PROPHECY Posted July 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 maybe ill go for the gravel then, i think sand would get sucked up during water changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwan Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 If you're going for an amazon theme, i presume you'll go planted? I would recommend sand, I went with gravel and I wish I had have gone with sand. Im quite sure it's better for plant growth too (good for the roots). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damiana Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 I had good luck with Brightwater on my Blackwater set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 i have sand in my slightly amazon themed tank. amazon substrates are pretty gunky i would imagine :lol: also depends on if your having bottom feeders, i find cories love sand alot more than they do gravel and its better for their barbells (as long as its not sharp sand), try and get gravel with nice edges if you have bottom feeders. sand doesnt get sucked up with water changes, the very fine silt does but you only have to hover above sand as the gunk cant get down lower so it makes maintenence a bit easier. of course you have to make sure it doesnt go anerobic as it compacts but thats easy enough to get rid of (i run a fork thru the sand once a week, staying away from plants and their roots) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted July 11, 2006 Report Share Posted July 11, 2006 Remember to think of the practical side too. If you're going to use sand you'll need under gravel heating to get a slow current flow otherwise the gravel will go rotten and kill the plant roots. I've found the best stuff is a compromise between sand and gravel. I use a small graded stone of 1-4mm in size. It does not pack down and there is enough flow in the gravel to stop it rotting. The flow is not enough to leach out the fertiliser though. I use an inert stone with no organics added. These will arrive all by themselves anyway from waste. I add fertiliser tablets to control whats going into the gravel. Before I had to move, my tank had been set up for eight years without having to rip up the gravel and start again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
candy Posted July 12, 2006 Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 if u want to see what Brightwater gravel looks like.the tank for sale tank pics has it in there... my plants have grown very well in it and so far so good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.PROPHECY Posted July 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 wel the tanks for large cichlids and my arowana and large plecos and catfish so not much plants are gona be used , just bog wood and a few larger plants thanks for the info tho guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted July 12, 2006 Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 I use sand to grow plants without heating underneath and they grow well. If you are not so interested in growing plants then gravel would probably make life easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted July 12, 2006 Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 id probably use that bright water gravel then. sand and plecos dont mix very well in my experience (with anything large that BN that is), they fluff it all up and if it gets into your filters impellors is can be nasty :lol: im going to get some malaysian trumpet snails for my sandy tank, apparently theyre going to be my little sand airators :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted July 12, 2006 Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 Well, if you're going to have large cichlids then kiss goodbye any idea of having plants. There's two reasons: 1. You either have plants and do the job properly or it's a waste of time trying - the plants will just slowly die off. 2. Large cichlids will continually uproot almost any plant you try to grow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.PROPHECY Posted July 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 bright water gravel? as in the normal salad stuf evryone gets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted July 12, 2006 Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 its a very dark gravel, hard to explain but candy has pics somewhere i beleive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.PROPHECY Posted July 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 ive had peace lillys in my oscar tank for over two years now and its doin fine , the fish dont bother it to much , and i just make sure it tied down to a rock or some wood and its fine and looks great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damiana Posted July 12, 2006 Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 Let me know if you want some MTS's, I have them coming out of my ears. Pay for postage and stuff and you can have some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.PROPHECY Posted July 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 MTS's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted July 12, 2006 Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 I am surprised the peace lily has lasted so long. They are not an aquatic plant and usually rot once submerged. They look great to start with though 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.PROPHECY Posted July 12, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 yea my dad once told me you could also use it under the water! and he was rite but the leaves do go a lighter green after awile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damiana Posted July 13, 2006 Report Share Posted July 13, 2006 Malasian trumpet snails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted July 13, 2006 Report Share Posted July 13, 2006 *finishes sentance for damiana* a sandy bottom keepers best friend :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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