Show me your substrate!

[Andri Pogo]

Could you show me pictures of what substrate you use in your Polypterus tanks ?
I have a really fine industrial sand and im getting tired of it, the water is always foggy.
Im going to chance my substrate soon to something a little bigger gravel, although i know sand is the best for bichirs but i wanna get some new ideas.



here is the sand im gonna get rid of:

 

[proaquatics]

mmmm i like your substrate better then mine

plain old natural sand here

ill take it off your hands for you

 

[cenecker]

I've tried a lot of substrates for my polys. Currently I'm using something like what you have, a black sand. However I shelled out $25 a bag for the actual petstore stuff, it was a gouge but it stays settled and doesn't cloud the water.

 

[moonchild1970]

Vey fine play sand:

 

[CORVETTE]

I Agree with you just changed out my black sand in my tank and wow what a difference. NOt as foggy and still clearing up. Changes to a very small round while rock.

 

[uwe]

Hello,

i prefer black gravel - not sand ... the bichirs seem to feel safe and are showing rich colouration and contrast.
The reason i do not use sand is: The plants! In sand the roots of the plants will rot very fast and on will get heavy problems with the water quality ... rotting plants are no fun for the eyes.

NEVER use sand for planting aquaristic plants - this will fail in the most cases!

I have nearly white gravel in my smaller tank - and will change to black gravel in summer (i need time to do this). The bright gravel reflects mor of the light causing happy algae! The plants do not have any profit from this "more" of light.
With black gravel i do not have those problems ...

 

[akskirmish]

Tahitian moon sand-

 

[Wildzone]

My gravel looks just the one UWE uses.