Substrate for 33 gallon

[Sean_Buckley]

Would SeaChem Onyx Sand or Flourite work well for this? How deep of a bed should it be? Would the sand compact? And, is there a cheaper, just-as-good alternative to something like Onyx or Flourite? Thanks!
Sean

 

[Yenko]

Never buy made-for-aquarium gravel. If you can find a good, inert product with the right grain size (Pool filter sand or blasting grit), then it is every bit as good as the aquarium stuff, and many times cheaper.

 

[Nospherith]

Never buy made-for-aquarium gravel. If you can find a good, inert product with the right grain size (Pool filter sand or blasting grit), then it is every bit as good as the aquarium stuff, and many times cheaper.

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that's true, you don't want to learn to drive in a ferrari... But Flourite isn't just gravel. It's got a bunch of good stuff like Fe in it that's good for plants that you can't get with ashtray sand, ect. My cryptocorynes and vallis defenitely recognize the difference (between EcoComplete and plain gravel).

the bed should be 3" level and a cheaper alternative would be fine gravel (1-3mm) mixed with Laterite.

 

[RYO]

SeaChem Onyx Sand or Flourite would work very well but is a tad expensive.I found JBL's Florapol a cheaper alternative - 600g pot is £6-99 and is enough for a tank upto 100cm long - http/www.jbl.de/index_uk.html
link gives you the info how to set it up (to idle to type )
SeaChem Onyx Sand is more like fine gravel than sand and should not compact,if your changing your substrate or just setting up when not invest in an under gravel heating cable , be about £30 for a tank your size.