Gravel suggestions ? *confused*

[fish_fella]

hello everyone, i just picked myself up a new 4 ft fish tank after my old one cracked D: the demensions are 48'' x 14'' x 16'' and i want to have a heavily type planted tank with this stocking:
2 x angelfish
20x neon tetra's ( i have had them with angel fish before without getting eaten hopefully i have luck agin)
and a little clean up crew that i haven't figured out yet.

Would you please be able to suggest some cheap but good gravel for a medium to heavily planted tank, i was looking for a nice carpet in the front aswell. thanks for advice in advance

 

[chonhzilla]

well it really depends on what type of setup you'll have. Dwarf sag does a good foreground for low-tech setups. but what really matters is what your setup is going to be.

 

[fish_fella]

well what would you suggest, i can't really decide. like i don't have a clue what plants i will get i usually just pick some out at petshop and arange them wherever according to whether they are foreground and midground.

 

[chonhzilla]

I personally enjoyed aquariumplants.com's black substrate, it was cheap for the amount I paid for it. But my new favorite is Eco-Complete, if you can find a 20lb for under $25 a bag the is pretty much a good deal. Personally if I could do it all over again, I would go with eco-complete because if you ever decide to go with faster growing plants you'll have a good base to start with. And not worry too much about not having good enough substrate.

 

[fish_fella]

do you have to rinse it alot but, because i don't want to cloud up my tank as i have angel fish in it atm

 

[jcardona1]

No, Eco-Complete comes with water in the bag. Just drop it in, fill with water and enjoy! Didn't even cloud my tank.

 

[fish_fella]

my tank is already full of crystal clear water, with my 9 angels using it as a grow out. when they reach a size where their is too many of them, i am getting rid of all of them except my favourite two. so are you definately sure it will not cloud my tank?

 

[jcardona1]

my tank is already full of crystal clear water, with my 9 angels using it as a grow out. when they reach a size where their is too many of them, i am getting rid of all of them except my favourite two. so are you definately sure it will not cloud my tank?

Didn't cloud mine at all. Your water may get a little hazy for a few hours, but it's nothing your filtration shouldn't be able to handle right away.

 

[chonhzilla]

Didn't cloud mine at all. Your water may get a little hazy for a few hours, but it's nothing your filtration shouldn't be able to handle right away.

Yeah mine too, it only took about 3 hours to get crystal clear.

 

[fish_fella]

awesome and thanks guys. i just have one more question for the moment. my angel fish go straight for the food instantly like pigs but then it starts sinking and they dont eat it, how cdo i stop the hbh tropical fish flakes from sinking? because they will not eat it off the bottom and my 6'' whiptail will not clean it either.