Substrate recommendations

[Elyse]

anyone have recommendations for a brand that sells a course sand suitable for earth eaters and corydoras? I don't want the sand to be too fine otherwise it compacts and is harder for plants to grow in. Would like both a black and white option please...

[GoofyGarra]

I think @Guppysnail found something like this.

[Guppysnail]

Absolutely. Carib sea jungle river sand. All my corydora love it including my Pygmy. I love it because it can be vacuumed to avoid compacting yet it does not go up the siphon. My GBR, Laetacara dorsigera and curviceps love it. 
 

the dorsigera use their body to dig holes for breeding and this is still perfect for that. 
 

 

[Guppysnail]

@Elyse Douglas I just happened to be washing a bag of the jungle river so took an in hand photo for you. 

[Lennie]

On 9/20/2023 at 9:16 PM, Elyse Douglas said:

anyone have recommendations for a brand that sells a course sand suitable for earth eaters and corydoras? I don't want the sand to be too fine otherwise it compacts and is harder for plants to grow in. Would like both a black and white option please...

you can use plant root friendly substrate on the bottom and fine sand on top. A lot of aquascapers use this method. Walstad tanks use this method. You can check MD's videos to see how he does it. He has many setups with different substrates all topped with fine sand

[Elyse]

On 9/20/2023 at 4:51 PM, Lennie said:

you can use plant root friendly substrate on the bottom and fine sand on top. A lot of aquascapers use this method. Walstad tanks use this method. You can check MD's videos to see how he does it. He has many setups with different substrates all topped with fine sand

I think I may have to do that for my tanks that i want to use black sand in... I can't find a course sand option in black like I did for the white which caribsea has multiple options

[nabokovfan87]

On 9/20/2023 at 11:16 AM, Elyse said:

Would like both a black and white option please...

Black = seachem flourite black
white = caribsea crystal river or Torpedo Beach

[FLFishChik]

@Irene from Girl Talks Fish has a YouTube video about different substrates and she mentions in her vlog that she uses/used to use a coarse black sand from Petco (Imaginarium brand). It comes in black. Maybe check into that?

 

[mynameisnobody]

Pool filter sand $20 for a 50lb bag 

[Galabar]

Eco complete (black or red) is always a good option.

[Ruud]

I use JBL Sansibar which is very fine sand on top of a more course base layer. Available in several colors including black . 

[nic]

Black Diamond Blasting Sand (BDBS). You can get a big bag for cheap. Rinse it well. I think there are 2 sizes, medium and fine. I've had it in my tank for over a year. Plants are growing fine and I have snails that bury in it but I can't speak for the fish you mentioned.

It is a substrate to do research on as many people have used it for years in multiple tanks with a variety of fish and have had no issues. But others have had problems.

[JamesAlbright]

On 9/21/2023 at 6:48 AM, FLFishChik said:

@Irene from Girl Talks Fish has a YouTube video about different substrates and she mentions in her vlog that she uses/used to use a coarse black sand from Petco (Imaginarium brand). It comes in black. Maybe check into that?

 

Thanks for the video.

[Elyse]

I recently discovered activ-flora and it seems to have some good reviews but I didn't know the consistency. Does anyone have experience with it / is it safe for earth eaters? 

[_Eric_]

I’ve used the black and white Imagitarium sand at Petco on my smaller tanks.  I’ve had good results for plants, corys, and apistos that like sifting.  Here’s a link:

Imagitarium Sand 

Pool filter sand can be a good option if you need to buy a lot since it is cheaper.  Most pool filter sand is tan but you can find white ones.  I am getting ready to go this route for my larger tank but haven’t used personally yet.

 

[Matt B]

I found this horticulture sand at our local garden center.  Gave it a try just to see what would happen. It worked great for a Triops experiment and then for a shrimp tank. Plants root well in it as well.