Looking for a black inert substrate for my next 29 gallon tank

[Pepere]

Either a fine gravel, or a coarse sand 1-3 mm, not to sharp edges.

 

preferably not just painted black that will flake off.

 

going to be a heavily planted tank.

 

any suggestions?

[itsfoxtail]

Maybe not quite within your range but I have had great luck with mixing Black Diamond Blasting Sand and Flourite Black Gravel substrate. The sand is a bit smaller than that and some of the biggest pieces of flourite are a bit bigger than your range but it would be great for plants with the extra iron and right around your range! Maybe someone else will have something more specific!

[Fish Folk]

On 10/24/2022 at 9:34 PM, Pepere said:

Either a fine gravel, or a coarse sand 1-3 mm, not to sharp edges.

 

preferably not just painted black that will flake off.

 

going to be a heavily planted tank.

 

any suggestions?

I have used BDBS in a handful of aquariums. It is inert. But this does not always help plants. Without more information, and without knowing your budget considerations, it is hard to be very helpful.

I would use about 2-inches of heavily pre-washed BDBS on the bottom, with 1.5 inches of Black Active-Flora Substrate. It is a fine gravel, similar to a coarse sand...

[nabokovfan87]

I recommend the seachem flourite black line of substrate.  I have had algae issues with this specific tank, but I do not blame it on the substrate.  They have the sand variation, but I've been using the standard size "flourite black".   It isn't a dark black, but a dark grey in color.  It is a natural, inert media, and that would be what I lean towards for dark substrates.  BDBS I have had issues, but there's also people on this forum who have ran it for a very long time without issues.  It doesn't have a set composition, so please keep that in mind, especially with bottom dwellers.

[Pepere]

On 10/24/2022 at 11:06 PM, Fish Folk said:

have used BDBS in a handful of aquariums. It is inert. But this does not always help plants. Without more information, and without knowing your budget considerations, it is hard to be very helpful.

I have read about some people having issues with the black diamond blasting sand and it being speculated to not having a set formulation.

I dont like rolling the dice.

I will have mesh bags of aquasoil under the surface so I have no need of an enhanced gravel.  All the substrate has to do is hold plants when they are inserted, look good and not harm cory barbels.

 

The claims of various nutrient infused gravels seem rather dubious at best.  My preference is to avoid them.

Budget is not a serious constraint.

Edited October 25, 2022 by Pepere

[Fish Folk]

On 10/25/2022 at 5:24 AM, Pepere said:

I have read about some people having issues with the black diamond blasting sand and it being speculated to not having a set formulation.

I dont like rolling the dice.

I will have mesh bags of aquasoil under the surface so I have no need of an enhanced gravel.  All the substrate has to do is hold plants when they are inserted, look good and not harm cory barbels.

 

The claims of various nutrient infused gravels seem rather dubious at best.  My preference is to avoid them.

Budget is not a serious constraint.

In that case, I'd at least seriously consider the Activ-Flora substrate for what you want to accomplish. Set aside any of the "claims," just for the appearance alone, it's very nice. Beware it comes in MANY colors. Don't settle for anything except the fine-grained Black.

[anewbie]

estes stoney river has a black that is inert and around 1-2mm. They actually have 2 black substrates; you want the good one.