Substrate?

[PerryClem0842]

Hi, I'm a newbie here just a quick question. I've heard from several fish stores that it is possible to use play-pit sand in a new 100 litre tank after washing it thoroughly,is this true? And what fish can live together in the same tank as Apistogramma Borellii?

 

[MegaZerino]

Hi, I'm a newbie here just a quick question. I've heard from several fish stores that it is possible to use play-pit sand in a new 100 litre tank after washing it thoroughly,is this true? And what fish can live together in the same tank as Apistogramma Borellii?

i would still use sand from the fish stores, might cost a little more but at least you know it wont have any harmful chemicals in it. and then all you have to do is wash the dust off of it, sorry i cant answer the second question

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Yes, it is true. I have "play sand" in my aquarium.


Most peaceful fish can coexist with apistogrammas, but not other apistos or any other cichlids, except for very large tanks with broken up sightlines and territorial boundaries.


1m and 2f apistogramma borellii should be fine, although your tank would be on the small side for these fish. I would also suggest that you limit yourself in other bottom dwelling fish. Maybe a BN plec, but probably not a great idea to get any corydoras or even smaller loaches with such a small footprint.


A shoal of mid-top swimmers would be nice. These could be any number of peaceful fish...

From the tetra options:
Neon or cardinals
bloodfins
rummynose
false rummynose


From rasboras:
ANY

From barbs:
cherry
five banded

 

[Mowbz]

Playsand is currently fine. Plans have been heard to add anti fungal agents in the future, but nothing confirmed.

Argos and B&Q are most common types, both around £3 for a 25kg bag. You need to wash and wash and wash. Its quite dusty, and just plonking it in the tank will foul the water quite severely, and make a mess of your filters.

Fill half a bucket at a time and rise until waterruns clear

and

 

[PerryClem0842]

Playsand is currently fine. Plans have been heard to add anti fungal agents in the future, but nothing confirmed.

Argos and B&Q are most common types, both around £3 for a 25kg bag. You need to wash and wash and wash. Its quite dusty, and just plonking it in the tank will foul the water quite severely, and make a mess of your filters.

Fill half a bucket at a time and rise until waterruns clear

and

Thanks a lot for all of the replies and the warm welcome, this really helped me.