Substrate help

[Bonne46]

Hey everyone, I'm looking at turning a spare 10g tank of mine into a planted tank. I've seen so many forms of substrate and I had a question reagarding it. I am not looking at using sand, I am trying to get a black substrate so it will make the plants and fish pop. So my question for you is what brand do you guys/girls recommend? Also how much would I need for a 10g tank?

 

[Ozymandias]

well thay do make black sands, color quirtz is a pool filter sand that is black and people use it there are also other black sand available. alternatively you could get some think like eco-complete or flourite back and black sand. both are black and are made with plants so that have some nutrients in them (not a whole lot mostly iron). i personally use flourite when i can and despite it needing to be cleaned extremely well before being put in the tank i like it alot.

 

[Bonne46]

Thanks for the reply! If anyone has a pic of the pool black sand please post I would love to see it! Also I will have to call my lfs to see if the have flourite so I can check it out. Any idea how much I need for a 10g tank?

 

[Ozymandias]

for a ten gallon not all that much really a bag should do it i think a bag is usually around 15lb for flourite and cost about $20ish depending on the place. eco-complete is heavier because it's packed in water and is usally more expensive but you dont have to wash it.

the pool filter sand you might have a hard time finding and thay usually come of 50lb bags but it's cheap like maybe $25ish a bag (depending on where you got it). call some local pool supply stores thay might have it.

here is a link for what it looks like
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=167015

 

[zpromoter]

As already mentioned, the 3M color quartz is a great looking substrate. You are not going to find it at any pet store though. I would try all your pool suppy stores in the area. It is kind of hard to find, but if you can find it, I would definately grab it. I would post a picture, but I don't have any tanks with it in it.

 

[Bonne46]

I will call around, also my dad owned a pool store we just don't carry it we carry different sand, maybe he can order some.

Anyone have pics of other substrate? Please label and post so I can get my ideas.

 

[zpromoter]

once again, I have never dealt with this stuff but I just googled the product and it came up with this image.

I would imagine the package to look something very similar to this one.

 

[Bonne46]

Thank you for posting that pic!

Edit: What would you recommend S-grade or T-grade of colorquartz? I found a supplier about 2 mins away from me who sells it lol.

 

[blue2fyre]

I'm pretty certain I read somewhere that color quartz is being discontinued by the end of this year. I'm not sure if you can get it anymore.

In case I'm wrong here is a picture of my mbuna tank that has black colorquartz s-grade.

 

[MChambers]

Estes' black sand is nice. Two 5 pound bags would be enough. You can find it online.