Substrate choice

[Penfold]

Hi all

Getting confused looking at substrates for my new tank. In terms of bottom dwellers, I currently have shrimp and I am looking to add catfish into what will be a planted aquarium.

Coarse gravel is a no no for the corys, should I just be aiming for sand? There’s some biogravel media which claims to help manage all aspects of the nitrogen cycle, is that just marketing spiel of is there real world experience of it? It’s fine so might be suitable for corys.

Thanks for the advice as always.

[Andys temperate tank]

How big is the tank? That's my main factor when picking a substrate.

I would have loved to use seachem flourite in my big tank but it would have cost around £300. I have got flourite dark in stans tank but that only needed 2 large bags.

[Penfold]

Base is 38 x 45, deep tank though at 55cm.

[Andys temperate tank]

Base is 38 x 45, deep tank though at 55cm.

It depends on your budget then mate.

Unipac limpopo sand is a very fine gravel and meant to be good for Cory's. I can see why mind as I have it in my big tank.

You could look at a plant soil to go under your substrate but I've got no experience with that.

[plankton]

I always use silica sand of one type or another.
I had trouble sourcing swimming pool filter sand last time, but they threw in some bags of Unipac sand with the tank, so that wasn't a problem.

[Stephen]

I prefer and recommend Unipac sand, something natural and not light in colour such as the Unipac Limpopo sand or Unipac Samoa fine sand.
The Unipac Limpopo sand will show off any plants and shrimp nicely.
15kg-20kg of sand should be about right for your size of aquarium.

All the best

Stay safe & healthy everyone

[Penfold]

Hello,

Thanks for all of the advice, in the end I went for Unipac Maui Fine Quartz Sand, 20kg. Looking forward to getting everything assembled now!

What does everyone do about stirring sand once the aquarium is live, is it something I need to worry about?

Thank you

[Gingerlove05]

If its planted you probably wont have to stir it, also if you have snails that bury into the sand. Saying that SJP (my albino BN) does a pretty good job of rescaping sand
Also i think the unipack sands are made so they dont compact. But unless the sand is really deep (3-4inches+) it probably wont be an issue

[Penfold]

Well the sand’s coming tomorrow and my new tank has been despatched, but no predicted delivery date. Fingers crossed everything comes tomorrow so I can get the cycle going!