Which Type Of Gravel?

[Dougie175]

I have just bought a second hand 4 foot tank and im going to start keeping a cichlid tank, my first question is which type of gravel/sand should i use? Also is there any point trying to keep real plants?

 

[VidVid]

hey...imo, i would get the gravel because most cichlids especially the large ones would produce alot of waste and if you pick a sand subtrate, it would be more visible....i dont know the type of brand though....some cichlids may also dig, but its up to you if you would want a disturbed uneven subtrate....on the other hand, sand does look more natural...and you could keep some hardy plants in there, i would prefer to you java moss, its easy and fish dont really like the taste....beware, the moss grows really quick....also imo, i would just decorate my tank with piled up rock slates and hiding places to make them more comfortable....Decorations such as rocks are more common in cichlids than plants so yeah.....

 

[BigC]

You are probably wasting your time trying to grow aquarium plants in a large cichlid setup due to their constant digging relating to most of the species. But for what it's worth below is the method I use.
Fine gravel with substrate additives such as Laterite. (large pea gravel is no good and sand cloggs too easily) Mix about 1/3 of your unwashed gravel with your chosen additive. Then place the remaining 2/3 of washed gravel on top. An undergravel heating element may be added to the bare base before you add the substrate as adding one at a later date would prove awkward. As well as water temperature, lighting and CO2 injection should also be addressed.
Regards
BigC

P.S. Stick to easy plants to start with i.e. Hygrophilla Polysperma and Java Fern.

 

[Dougie175]

Im pretty sure ive got the lighting and temp sorted, what is involved with the CO2 injection?