Substrate recommendations for a large tank

[shift]

My original plan was to use MGOPM and cap it with something...

Now i'm wondering if i should stick with a single substrate or mix a few random ones together. It will be a 85G 4'x18" 24" high tank. It will be fairly heavily planted with 2x 54W T5 ho lights hanging above it.

My only real requirement is that the substrate is a dark (preferably black) substrate to make the fish/shrimp pop out

I plan on stocking it with nano shrimp. (pumpkins, pfr/or crs/cbs.. still deciding)
A large number of CPDs and probably 12-14 rummy nose tetras.

My first though was black diamond blasting grit but it is no where to be found in BC canada. I'm open to any suggestions you guys have.

Thanks in advance.

[steven p]

Blasting grit is probably just sold under another name... Any agricultural stores near you?

[mistahoo]

Black Diamond is sand blasting media. You should be able to find it in Canada, but under a different name. If you can't find it in Agriculture stores, check out any paint shops near you. They may have it.

[adamprice271]

Personally I like to mix it up... in my 125g I have several bags of Eco complete, supernaturals black sand, supernaturals small golden gravel (like 5mm...or a little over sand size). I really like it because I have an overall black feel, but the gold/yellow really pops. Shoot, I think I also have some red flourite in there too.

Adam

[shift]

adamprice271 - do you have a pic of your tank?

Do you think target black magic would work? The only thing that worries me is the copper in the mix.

[adamprice271]

I'll post one when photobucket decides to work for me.

Adam

[shift]

So I found a pet store with a decent bag of black rocks for 24$. For a planted tank would you just mix that with a bag or two of Florite straight Fluorite or do a capped dirt

[shift]

So if i do an inch or so of MGOPM is it worth spending a little more money for eco-complete or flourite for cap or will the dirt do the job and go with a cheap black topper?

[Jnad]

This might be interesting an easy to try in a big tank
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume...e_7_1/dsb.html

[shift]

Would you do that over top of dirt or 100% sand?
I do like the though of sand but have heard it can be trouble when using a canister filter (fx5 is going on the tank)

Also if i'm not using dirt, i'm assuming it will require regular fert dosing?

[Bluek24a4]

You'll probably end up doing regular fert dosing regardless. I suggest taking a look at Safe-t-sorb, good for plants and cheap enough for a tank that will need a bunch of substrate.

[shift]

That stuff is crazy cheap!!! Sadly not black bit for the price it may win . Thanks for the tip

[Jnad]

I think i would do that with 100% sand. I have tried dirt and sand, and it certenly grow plants. But i think i would probably like to move around plants and dirt tanks dont like that, then they get dirty. I have now changed one of my dirt tanks to 100% cat litter just to see how cat litter works. I think cat litter is very mutch like those absorbing oil products, compared to when i was using dirt and sand the water is crystal clear, but the cat litter is changing waterparameters in the beginning, i am doing waterchanges to fix that, hoping the cat litter soon will be saturated and stopp changing my water parameter.

I find the DSB theory very interesting and might try that out on a bigger tank.

Jnad

Originally Posted by shift

Would you do that over top of dirt or 100% sand?
I do like the though of sand but have heard it can be trouble when using a canister filter (fx5 is going on the tank)

Also if i'm not using dirt, i'm assuming it will require regular fert dosing?

[aquarium hippy]

I use black diamond blasting sand it cost like $8 per 50lb bag at TSC

http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/...=&cm_vc=-10005


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[aquarium hippy]

My plants are growing like mad in this stuff



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