Substrate

[rickyjjuk]

I'm about to set up some new breeding tanks for my L's I was just wondering what substrate to use ? sand, fine gravel or gravel? I have got sand in the old tanks now but i seem to suck alot up when trying to clean it and also it get blown about buy the filters alot?

What are your thoughts people :dk::dk:

 

[macvsog23]

Hi

I use a mix that reflects as near as possible the natural conditions

Ie some Whip tails need a sandy substrate to hide in some spend most of the time on rocks / bog wood.

For fry a lot of people have bare bottom tanks I found this cause problems with a bacterial build up.

Most of my fry are just left to get on with it , a course gravel will give problems with food becoming unobtainable to the fry as it sinks down.


Regards Bob

 

[Jo Crane]

Thin layer of sand for me

 

[Paul]

Play sand from Argos for me.

 

[JackGillett]

sand mixed with coarse gravel

 

[rickyjjuk]

Has anyone else used this sand from Argos????

 

[Joby]

Sand for me, had trouble with bare bottomed tanks. I use the Argos play sand or Wickes play sand

 

[GrubbyGirl]

Sand for me, had trouble with bare bottomed tanks. I use the Argos play sand or Wickes play sand

what trouble did you have with bare bottom Joby?

 

[Stan]

I like fine gravel, I keep vaccuming the sand up.

 

[Joby]

what trouble did you have with bare bottom Joby?

I believe I had bacteria build up on there and was losing fry as soon as they came out of the cave but having said that I still lost them when I put a layer of sand in so maybe that wasn't the cause either :dk: I went for a fry saver in the end and no problems since with losing any :woohoo:

 

[GrubbyGirl]

Aaah, well I don't have any fry to worry about yet!

 

[Irene0100]

def thin layer of sand for me, can sieve it with green net to remove some snails if get too many building up. i heard that early learning centre sand is good too.

 

[Gtdaddy3]

A thin layer of well washed pool filter sand is what I use in all my tanks. It looks nice, very inexpensive, and all the fish seem to like it. All the waste stays on top. When cleaning, I keep the vac just above the surface and swirl it around in small circles. The waste is lifted into the tube with very little sand. Occasionally, I run my fingers through it to release gas pockets.

 

[graham26]

swimming pool filter sand for me as well as it is easier to clean

 

[FF MkII]

Any play sand should be safe for use in aquariums. I have even seen some sands and gravels from garden centers that have aquarium safe logos on them