substrates, Your opinion

What is better

  • Gravel

    Votes: 64 57.1%

  • Sand

    Votes: 35 31.3%

  • Other (please specify)

    Votes: 13 11.6%
  • Total voters
    112
Flourite + Profile here.
 
Roan Art said:
I have had corycats in my flourite tank for 3 months.

Fu, my peppered corycat, has VERY long barbels. Longest I've seen on a cory and that's why he got named Fu (Fu Manchu :p: ). He's my oldest cat and I've seen no wear and tear or anything. In fact, none of my corycats show any barbel damage at all. I check them quite often because I'd read that rough and sharp substrates can hurt them. I'm starting to think that that's another myth.

Roan
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I've read that this myth was made back during the 1980's when using broken glass as a substrate. That would be bad for the cats.
 
nursie said:
I use swimming pool filter sand and fluorite mixed.
I went with the filter sand because it's cleaner than play sand or construction grade sand. It was only $7.50 for a 50 lb bag. A lot cheaper than the stuff going for $50 a bag! Wow!!
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Thffpt :)

Bought it for bearded dragons and you can't be too careful with those. Dragons are no longer (don't wanna talk about that :( ) and I still have 25 pounds of sand left. Seriously, it's VERY awesome sand. You have to see it to believe it :)

Roan
 
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the idea of trying to emulate a particular ecosystem. I have an Asian blackwater tank, and I made a substrate that is a blend of river rock, fine red/brown gravel, a little sand and some boiled peat. My crypts absolutely love it and everyone who sees the tank always asks where I got it because it looks so natural and goes with the whole blackwater effect.
 
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that would be too difficult for me to maintain
 
I use all this special flourite type stuff made in china... Its little black balls. I love dark substrate and its supposedly good for the plants. I dont know if it is flourite, because Ive never seen that here. This one contains "16" nutrients for the plants and the Loaches have no problem in it. Ill use anything black though... Makes the colors of fish seem brighter.
 
that works, (gravel is in the lead :) )
 
reziztor said:
I use all this special flourite type stuff made in china... Its little black balls. I love dark substrate and its supposedly good for the plants. I dont know if it is flourite, because Ive never seen that here. This one contains "16" nutrients for the plants and the Loaches have no problem in it. Ill use anything black though... Makes the colors of fish seem brighter.
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If it's black and great for plants, it's most likely eco-complete.
 
Gravel

I think in a common freshwater tank, which is all I have had, gravel is your best bet unless you like to spend hours trying to maintain your tank.
 
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