Reasonably Priced Substrate, Anywhere, In Black?

[doktor doris]

hullo,

Iam setting up a tank and would like to use sand or very fine gravel, as the fish I intend to keep like to dig, the thing is I would like it to be black.

I looked in my local LFS and 8 kilos of fine, black gravel is 13 pounds!

As the tank has a 3x2 feet footprint I daren't think how many bags I would need!

I know sand can be bought cheaply for kid's play areas, but does anyone sell black sand for that purpose?
Or must I resign myself to over a pound a kilo for the fine gravel?

thanks

doris

 

[lilacamy931]

http/home-garden.shop.ebay.co.uk/items/P...286Q2ec0Q2em282

this was all i could find on Ebay, haven't found much on the internet..

other options...

10kg for 16 pounds
http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...roducts_id=1208

crabowrx 2kg for 3 pounds!
http/www.shopmania.co.uk/shopping~online...~p-4633736.html

crabworks 2kg for 1pound 75 pence
http/www.ukpetsupplies.com/Details.aspx?...amp;ProdId=2375

lastly this

9kg for 13 pounds
http/www.warehouse-aquatics.co.uk/tropic...9kg-p-4668.html

this looks very nice!

 

[ellena]

That last one looks lovely and sparkley-I like!
There'd be p+p on top of that though?
Can't think of a non-aquarium use for black sand, is there was one, it'd be much cheaper.

 

[superman1]

if you want black sand you can buy it from www.warehouse-aquatics.co.uk

 

[matalan]

http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/cat...ack-p-1725.html

I baught some of this, its good stuff, not too cheap or expensive, middle ranged

 

[shelaghfishface]

i dont know if its of any use, but i once asked at a small reptile/fish shop in dundee if they could order me some in and he called the distributor and got me a 25kg bag of fine gravel in black for £19, might be worth an ask maybe in a small independent shop that wouldnt normally stock such items
pets at home do roman gravel the large bags are £11 and i used 2 in a fluval 200 and was more than enough, its very nice gravel too

shelagh xxx

 

[JohnRossDele]

i got it from my lfs (lucky me!! ) u could ask them to order in some if u like....... good luck anyway!

 

[doktor doris]

Thanks for all your replies chaps!

Is there an handy rule of thumb to calculate how much substrate is needed for a certain size tank?

 

[lilacamy931]

there are various calculators that can provide that answer- on the unworthy computer at the moment, when can nab my partners will find the useful link that I have used.

 

[lilacamy931]

here ya go!

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/calculator.php

 

[doktor doris]

Top Hole!

Splendid, thanks.

It would appear I don't need as much as I imagined.

phew!

 

[afishdude]

The calculator on this site tells you that also.

 

[JohnRossDele]

Thanks for all your replies chaps!

Is there an handy rule of thumb to calculate how much substrate is needed for a certain size tank?

use this briilant tool http/fish.bakerweb.biz/calculators.html

 

[afishdude]

Again.. why don't you people use the link on top of the page? It is just a click away.

http/www.fishforums.net/aquarium-calculator.htm

 

[lilacamy931]

well it is nice to cross check and a lot of the links I had was before i discovered this wonderful place