Substrate?

[fenwoman]

I went out looking at gravels and the like this afternoon. What a flipping rip off. In one lfs they were selling 2kg bags of slate chipping for £4.99 I saw the same in a builders merchant in 25kg sacks for £2.99.

I rather liked the look of the dark coloured slate as for my 2nd tank in the new year I am probably going to have cichlids or gouramis and think that this would contrast nicely with the brightly coloured fish. Is there any reason that I cannot use this as a substrate? They also had coloured slate too. Anything I should be aware of apart from the usual rinsing and sterilising of it?

 

[chickenlady]

Gosh, Fenwoman, you are a lady of many talents . Didn't know you were into fish as well.

I utterly agree with you that you can well and truly be ripped off at the lfs - the builders merchants are so much cheaper for certain items.

 

[fenwoman]

Gosh, Fenwoman, you are a lady of many talents . Didn't know you were into fish as well.

I utterly agree with you that you can well and truly be ripped off at the lfs - the builders merchants are so much cheaper for certain items.

I'm into all kinds of creatures. Currently share my money with 8 dogs, 11 cats, 3 ferrets, around 40 parrots, 2 ratses, 150 chickens, 2 geese and a tortoise which is alseep under my bed until the spring.
The only creature I won't have in my home is a male yoomun beeng. Nasty aggressive smelly things they are and you never get them completely housetrained and unless castrated they are likely to wander off in search of females hehehe

 

[chickenlady]

Utterly agree!

 

[Majjie]

I went out looking at gravels and the like this afternoon. What a flipping rip off. In one lfs they were selling 2kg bags of slate chipping for £4.99 I saw the same in a builders merchant in 25kg sacks for £2.99.

I rather liked the look of the dark coloured slate as for my 2nd tank in the new year I am probably going to have cichlids or gouramis and think that this would contrast nicely with the brightly coloured fish. Is there any reason that I cannot use this as a substrate? They also had coloured slate too. Anything I should be aware of apart from the usual rinsing and sterilising of it?

I think the only difference is likely to be the cleanliness - the builders merchant stuff is likely to need a lot more rinsing. With slate chippings though shouldn't be too much of a problem. Can be a pain with sand.

As for male homo sapiens as pets - quite agree - far too much trouble

 

[Underwurlde]

To quote Life of Brian:

"Stones, sir?"
"Naah. They've got a lot there, lying around on the ground."
"Oh, not like these, sir. Look at this. Feel the quality of that. That's craftsmanship, sir."
"Hmmm. Aah, all right. We'll have, uh, two with points and... a big flat one."


Don't forget that the LFS does not just sell any kind of stones, they are special aquatic stones, crafted from the purest green.

Andy