Which Is The Best Substrate, Etc To Use?

[Wanderer]

Hi there. I'm new to keeping fish and tried googling some info on substrates it it wasn't easy to find information, so I am going to ask here. What are the best substrates to use? I vaguely know that different minerals etc can impact/ help stabilize the ph of the water. I know that plants also can make a small difference to the water- helping to absorb nitrates/ produce oxygen. I have some Miramo balls.

Mine is a tropical fish tank, with garra rufa fish.

 

[DrRob]

Substrate choice is a hot topic and depends on 3 major factors.

1, what the tank is for, a show tank will need to look good, so cosmetics are a big part of the choice, a planted tank will need to support the roots and a malawi tank may need buffering, whilst a hospital tank will probably have no substrate at all.

2, fish choice, particularly bottom dwellers, some like to sift through sand, some get their barbels worn by sharp edges.

3, cost, some are plain expensive. Play sand and cat litter are pretty cheap.

 

[Wanderer]

I was wondering if substrates can positively affect the chemical composition of the water. So far all I know of that can affect the water are coral pieces and plants.

Not really worried about anything else much. I am using quartz pieces at the momet, and I like the fact that the light colour of these make it easier to see my fish, but I just wondered if there was anything better out there, that's all. I'm going to be keeping mainly plants that grow on rock and wood. My fish tend to like a bit of salad so I don't need to worry about planting much....just going to keep the plants they are more likely to leave alone such as java fern (an easy to keep plant which tastes bitter to them).

 

[DrRob]

Positive effects would always depend on the perspective. Compost based substrates tend to put the hardness and pH up, clay based substrates tend to absorb and then slowly release nutrients. Otherwise you're onto the coral sand for the hard water fish or generally inert substrate for everything else.

The aquasoils are designed to slowly release nutrients for plants but it sounds like they would be of limited use to you. I'd stick to inert substrates and whatever you find aethetically pleasing if I were you.