Seachem Onyx Reviews

[hubbahubbahehe]

Hi all, I am wondering if anyone has tried Seachem Onyx and would like to share their experiences with it.

Also, Which is better, Onyx gravel or Onyx sand, for a planted tank?

I would get fluorite except that it's so red, so I'm looking for a less distracting and bright color and I'm wondering if Onyx is the way to go.

Thanks all, Appreciate it.

[Rex Grigg]

I have used the Onyx sand. I did not like the size of the Onyx boulders. Onyx in the tank is a light grey color. If you want a good dark substrate then use Eco-Complete. Normal Flourite is actually more of a mixed orange color in the tank. I would personally never use Onyx again because I had a very hard time rinsing it out. I have rinsed a lot of substrate and pretty much have it down to a science. And that bag of Onyx took at least twice as long as the worst bag of Flourite I ever did.

[hubbahubbahehe]

so what substrate would you go for then? picking from fluorite, fluorite red, onyx sand, onyx gravel?

by the way, i also hear that there might be a Fluorite Black coming soon?

[Rex Grigg]

Flourite. But I would rather have Eco-Complete.

[hubbahubbahehe]

Yea, I got 3 bags of the last eco-complete at my lfs (25/bag). now, it's almost impossible to get it cuz they switcheddistributors... i called all over..can't find it...it's like no one has ever heardof it before..but fluorite is by far the most popular in the lfs

anyway...the reason i ask is cuz i found a lfs two blocks from me...selling seachem gravels for 16.99 ...i couldn't believe my eyes.. that's why i ask what you would pick from those 4.

[Daemonfly]

My Onyx sand wasn't to bad of a rinse at all. It's not what you'd consider a sand, more like finer gravel, as if they sifted their normal gravel & used the smaller pieces for "sand".

My opinion so far: Eco Complete > Flourite > Onyx Sand > Onyx Gravel
I really like my mix of 2:1 Eco Complete with Tahitian Moon black sand. Haven't tried the Eco Complete mixed with Onyx sand yet.

[chinaboy1021]

i use flourite and theres nothing i see wrong with it other than its a little sharp. but my cories do fine on it.

though i like the color of onyx to bring out the colors of your plant and fish, its not natural looking thats why i passed on it. i only have 1 tank, so i dont really know about other than flourite.

[hubbahubbahehe]

dang i know, i wish i could get eco-complete again..... i can't pass up this deal of fluorite for 16.99 , daemon , you ever try mixing onyx sand with onyx gravel?

chinaboy, don't you think the fluorite is a lil too red or orange.

[hubbahubbahehe]

chinaboy what do you mean the color of onyx is not natural looking?? i mean, wouldn't fluorite be not natural looking either?

[Daemonfly]

Flourite is a bit more natural looking, IMHO, at least color-wise, although depends on if you're specifically doing a "biotope" or not.. Onyx is more of a light charcoal gray color.

Nope, never tried Onyx "sand"/gravel mix.

[hubbahubbahehe]

perhaps a onyx sand/gravel mix would look kind of like eco-complete with all it's various sized pieces...

is onyx really that light colored?? by looking at it, it looks to be a dark dark black.

[hubbahubbahehe]

thanks all for your replies...as of now, i'm leaning towards getting more fluorite regular...

unless someone comes along with a great recommendation for onyx sand, fluorite might be the way to go..

[Rex Grigg]

It's not Onyx gravel. It's Onyx boulders. The stuff is huge.

[AussieTanker]

rex ,

i would appreciate your input on this since you seem to have used all of them ... how would it go putting a layer of flourite on the bottom ... and then the black onyx sand on top ... i can't get eco complete here in aussie ... these are the only two products of this type that i have been able to track down

i think my only option other than one or both of the above is to use the jbl aquadura plus as a nutrient base and then put either a black gravel @ 4-8mm particle size or a sandy gold gravel @ 2-3mm particle size ...

your thoughts would be appreciated ...

has any body else used flourite and onyx sand together?


regards
aussie tanker

[AussieTanker]

btw ... seeing as i have so few options .... i don't mind spending some extra time to rinse the onyx sand if i have too ... might be a good excuse to avoid mowing the lawn!......