Carib Sea Rift Lake Authentic substrate

[Caperguy99]

Has anyone tried this substrate?

I’m setting up a 220 gallon Tanganyika biotope and my LFS is telling me that I should get 200 lbs of this substrate. It looks very different from most African cichlid setups I see on videos and so on, as it seems to be made up of small shells and pebbles rather than the standard sand.

I suppose I have two questions:

1.) What would be the most geologically-similar substrate to southern Tanganyika? Would it be this Rift Lake Authentic product? Or a basic light coloured sand?

2.) If I went with 200 lbs of Rift Lake Authentic as substrate, would that create any problems? It looks like detritus might get stuck under it - as the pieces are actually quite large.

I’d love to hear from anyone who has used it.

 

[DJRansome]

You restricted replies to those who have used it. That means those of us who would not use it cannot provide a response.

 

[Caperguy99]

You restricted replies to those who have used it. That means those of us who would not use it cannot provide a response.

Fair point.

A revision: I’d love to hear from anyone who has an opinion one way or another.

 

[DJRansome]

Way too expensive and no benefit I can see. I like pool filter sand...the 20 grain works well with the Python, it's clean (although I still wash it well), does not get pulled into filter impellers and it looks natural. Plus $20 for 50 pounds.

To my eye it looks more like what I see in the Rift Lakes.

I would not put in more than 100 pounds. That will cover your tank with 1 inch of substrate...a good amount for ease of cleaning. You will have a fair amount of rocks...depending on which species. The rocks go in first, so you don't need sand in those areas.

 

[fishguy1978]

I have used sand and aragonite. I'm cheap so what ever is cheapest gets my bid. I then have more money for fish.