Suggestions for aquarium substrate

[FreshyFresh]

Just to add to all the great stuff above, if you're not concerned with plants in this tank, use something that is easy to vacuum and allows the debris to blend in between cleanings. This is why for big poopers, I like a mix of black and natural gravel. You don't notice the poop between cleanings.

 

[Etan]

Hi Etan,

Sorry, I am new to Monsterfishkeepers. I might have pasted the same by mistake thanks.

Ahh, makes sense now. Welcome to the board!

 

[Vikkram]

Thanks all for your help. I finally got a wonderful substrate A natural Sand (Pinkish red sand - which is not chemically coated). Actually its a grained particles of pale red / Pink color natural granite rock.

 

[Preacher]

I use pool filter sand, its heavy enough to "not" get sucked into filters and ruin them (like play sand can do). I also toss in some pea gravel here and there, nature is hardly ever totally uniform.
And sand allows detritus to sit on top, in plain view.
I like that, because it makes it easy to see what needs to be cleaned out.
I also place return water flow so detritus collects in a certain area in a front corner to make vacuuming out even easier (especially in large tanks).
And for "show" tanks, IMO it looks natural.
Here are a couple shots I took of Riverine substrate in Colombia in the Rio Magdalena system, View attachment 1272006 a few months back.
View attachment 1272007 View attachment 1272008

What brand and from where do get your sand?

 

[duanes]

I get mine from a local abrasives company called Garnet Abrasives, but no particular brand, just whatever he gets in at the moment.

 

[Preacher]

I get mine from a local abrasives company called Garnet Abrasives, but no particular brand, just whatever he gets in at the moment.

Ok thanks

 

[Vikkram]

Thanks for all your suggestions. I have completed my 240 gallon aquarium with a wonderful substrate. Herewith attached the photos. It's a 8 feet tank. For 4 feet, I used res sand, for 4 feet, I used while sand. Everything is natural sand