Substrate

[vanderdraay]

hi want to know whats the best substrate for south american cichlids im changing tanks soon to a bigger one and would like to find the best for my fish ive currently got them in a 125 ltr tank and am trying to get a 450 ltr if the wife lets me lol i know they dont really like plants so unfortunately ive got plastic much to my dismay so i want to get a good natural habitat for them any advise would be welcome many thanks

 

[waterdrop]

If you do a google images search on "south american biotope aquarium" you see a wide variety of looks, with both sand and gravel on display. Some of the pictures that look like actual amazon underwater photos seem to show a rough yellow-brown sandy bottom with lots of large smoothly rounded rocks, big dead leaves. I've also frequently seen the root-like underwater wood as shown in a number of these pictures.

I'm sure the south american cichlid keepers among us will have some things to say...

~~waterdrop~~