Choosing Substrate for my tank

[nono]

Hi guys. I want to ask you guys a question. It is been a while since i kept a fish. Now i want to try using a substrate like sand or amazon soil or somethings like that without using real plants. I am using 60cm x 40 cm x 40 cm and using a internal filter ( it is a chinese brand call boyu, perhaps some of you guys from asia will recognize it)with double canister. If i am using the substrate, will the current from my filter blow my sand all the time or is it okay to use substrate? Thanks

 

[Backfromthedead]

always the potential for sand to get in there especially if its fine like the type youre suggesting. you could try to rig a foam prefilter over the intakes of the filters. thats how i set up my ac110s with sandy substrate cause theyre finicky filters.

 

[duanes]

I use pool filter sand, it is sized and dense enough to fall quickly back into place after a backwash, so not as easily stirred up the way finer grain sand (like play sand) does. Pool supply outlets usually carry it.
For me it works all with, or without plants.

 

[bbortko]

The only reason I’ve ever had sand in my filters was when my jerk faced fish would grab mouthfuls and spit it into the intake. If you’re not doing plants I wouldn’t waste the money on ada substrates, pool filter sand will work just as well for a 1/4 of the cost.

 

[markstrimaran]

Then theirs the uncommon, easy to clean. Sand tile, or gravel tile.

 

[nono]

Okaaay. You guys are really helpful, thanks a lot and especially for the picture. I am gonna think twice then. How about something less finer like silica sand that is made for aquarium use?

 

[nono]

Oh yeah. And i sometimes still confuse. Does it really hurt fish if we are not using substrate since some people said that the reflection of the light will hurt their eye?

 

[markstrimaran]

I used glass bottoms, as I got tired of cleaning.
They will try to swim down through it sometimes.


I have fish that have grown up inside an algea scrubber. With very bright light, on 24x7. They seem fine, and grew just as fast as their siblings.

 

[FreshyFresh]

I base what substrate I use on what I want to keep in the tank. If you intend to keep corydoras, or other bottom sifters, something like sand is best.

I kept a fine black sand in my 29g for a while. I HATED it. Too fine, constantly got into my HOB impeller (even with a sponge pre-filter) and would get stirred up during water changes no matter how careful I was. I eventually changed that tank back to a fine grained natural gravel. I agree with the above in that if sand is a must, use pool filter sand or something a bit larger grained.

For big messier fish, I like to use a mix of black and natural gravel. It hides the turds between weekly vacuuming.

 

[nono]

Okay so using a bare bottom is okay? I will think about it again then.. i am planning for keeping a senegal bichir for a while or leopard ctenopoma. Do they need some substrate?