New 260l, Substrate Advice Please!

[Prey]

Right now I have a 60L tropical set up which is a few months old and seems to be doing fine . I went for black smooth gravel in this with some bogwood and live plants. Fish wise its corys, gouramis and guppies. Before this ive always had cold water fish.

Now... my girlfriend has just ordered a new 260L tank which turns up this weekend and Im not sure what to start with as a substrate - I would like to make it natural looking planted tank but am open to advice on best ways to do this. I will be spending the time while the tank is cycling in getting the plants etc just how I want as I dont want to be rehashing too much once the fish are in.

From some quick research my realistic options are argos play sand, go with the same type of smooth gravel from lfs - or maybe try filter sand (just larger grain as far as I know) as ive heard it mentioned in a few places and looks like I can get some here (http/www.eastmidlandswaterpools.com/Details.asp?ProductID=803) in two seperate grades (0.8 and 1.25mm).
What do people think would be best for fish/maintaining/looks?

Also it seems a little confusing as to whether I need to be mixing things with sand if I use it, or having a sub layer of aquarium compost with sand over it or...

Maybe im over complicating this!

 

[Larissa]

Welcome to the forum!
If you are interested in sand this might be of help: http/www.fishforums.net/content/Tropical...n-the-aquarium/
With sand you don't want to do too deep of a layer otherwise it will compact and deprive the roots of your plants from oxygen - the same applies if the grain size is too small. Also, keep in mind that you need to ocasionally stir sand to release pockets of trapped gas that build up when detritus gets burried. Personally, I prefer the way sand looks in an aquarium and many fish prefer it to gravel - I believe. Many people use aquarium soil as a base layer - this contains nutrients for plants. However, this will eventually be depleated of trace elements so it is not indefinately useful. Instead, you could place root tab fertilisers at the base of your plants (under the sand by the roots) every couple of weeks to keep them well nourised - as well as used liquid fertiliser with each partial water change - or more often depending on how often you change the water. I'd go for sand - but that's just me. Hope this helps.
-Larissa

 

[jennybugs]

I just set up a tank with a big bag of Jewson's smooth silver sand which cost me £3 for the whole bag and I still have half left It didn't take too much rinding either as it's already part washed. Great stuff

Play sand is the same sort of stuff. I used some JBL plant substrate with a layer of sand over the top, leaving a gap at the front and sides of the tank when putting down the plant substrate. This way you don't see it when you look at the tank.

 

[OscarWilde]

I really like white sand. I guess if you are planting the tank you made need something under there for them to root into.

 

[Prey]

It looks like sand will be the way to go - I think for now I'll just go with sand and some root tabs as the tank wont be heavily planted. I think ill be doing the rounds this weekend lokoing at the different sands all our local places have to offer!