Substrate opinion.

[Hao]

Here's an older video of when I had Caribsea Floramax Red in. It's chelated pieces just as your second pic. Believe they're mostly slivered clay. Believe them to be the same judging by the pic. I zoomed in on the substrate toward the end of vid.

[Media]

Why did you switch? It looks pretty good, that purple sand looks pretty good too. Struggles.

 

[Experiment397]

I used to sell a caribsea substrate that was pretty red and very natural. let me see if i can figure out which one it was. I used it in all of my discus and blue/green colored fish displays to bring out their colors. would probably do wonders for bringing out the greens in polys like pbb and faranah

 

[Experiment397]

Try the Caribsea Peace River. Its a fine gravel that has a nice tan and red color. It looked great in my displays with SA Cichlids, Tetras and other colorful tropicals. The Caribsea Ecocomplete Red could also be an option for you but may be pricy for a large tank like yours. We used it in our discus and gourami tanks at the store I worked at. Because of the flaky nature it tends to flatten out and settle over time and you may end up needing more than you would think to get a decently thick layer in your tank. I used their other color of it for a base layer in my 125 and needed around 60lbs for a .75-1.0" layer across the bottom of the tank

 

[Vancouver_98683]

Why did you switch? It looks pretty good, that purple sand looks pretty good too. Struggles.

I switched to this Caribsea after my red gravel. So it went from bright markings to a little lighter (faded) after a month on most polys. That video was just shortly after the change. So, they looked decent. But weeks after they lightened. I switched back to red gravel just to obtain the better markings.

 

[clm08k]

I'm okay with red garnet. Just thought the other substrate looked cool. and Zlich's substrate reminds me of my old substrate before garnet.
View attachment 1256068

I know there is a "natural" brown looking small gravel they sell at petsmart. Nat Geo. Maybe you could add that to your current sand?
https://www.petsmart.com/fish/decor...ade-aquarium-substrate-21324.html?cgid=300103

although, Don't know how it would be mixing that with sand.

 

[Hao]

Try the Caribsea Peace River. Its a fine gravel that has a nice tan and red color. It looked great in my displays with SA Cichlids, Tetras and other colorful tropicals. The Caribsea Ecocomplete Red could also be an option for you but may be pricy for a large tank like yours. We used it in our discus and gourami tanks at the store I worked at. Because of the flaky nature it tends to flatten out and settle over time and you may end up needing more than you would think to get a decently thick layer in your tank. I used their other color of it for a base layer in my 125 and needed around 60lbs for a .75-1.0" layer across the bottom of the tank

I'm not a big fan of the peace river color. I was thinking 50-60 lb should be good for my 150g if I do the ecocomplete red. I just want a thin layer.

I switched to this Caribsea after my red gravel. So it went from bright markings to a little lighter (faded) after a month on most polys. That video was just shortly after the change. So, they looked decent. But weeks after they lightened. I switched back to red gravel just to obtain the better markings

Interesting. I mean for Congicus and Ornates, it shouldn't have too much of an effect.

I know there is a "natural" brown looking small gravel they sell at petsmart. Nat Geo. Maybe you could add that to your current sand?
https://www.petsmart.com/fish/decor...ade-aquarium-substrate-21324.html?cgid=300103

although, Don't know how it would be mixing that with sand.

Not a fan of brown substrate either. I probably would not mix any other sand with my red garnet. Probably just remove it and completely change it if anything. Might try it out and switch back If I don't like it. We'll see.

 

[clm08k]

Where did you get this information?

I am not sure it is accurate. I think you're thinking of Aquasoil.

Likewise have heard that about Aquasoil, but I believe Eco-complete is all ready stable
Eco-complete doesn't alter Ph and has all the minerals in it to grow plants. That's about all I can remember. Haven't heard anything about ammonia. Although on the website it does say "will cycle your aquarium faster."


"Eco-Complete contains live heterotrophic bacteria to rapidly convert fish waste into natural food for your aquatic plants. It establishes a natural biological balance, which makes cycling a new aquarium faster and safer. Eco-Complete is packed in Liquid Amazon buffered black water solution for immediate organic water conditioning. Unsurpassed macro-porosity for healthy roots and bacterial efficiency."

- dr.fosters's fish website under "more information"
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9087

I'm not a big fan of the peace river color. I was thinking 50-60 lb should be good for my 150g if I do the ecocomplete red. I just want a thin layer.

Interesting. I mean for Congicus and Ornates, it shouldn't have too much of an effect.


Not a fan of brown substrate either. I probably would not mix any other sand with my red garnet. Probably just remove it and completely change it if anything. Might try it out and switch back If I don't like it. We'll see.

Hao , I would go with the Eco-complete if you like the colors. It's great for plants, looks natural. Just as long as the polys aren't too small. If I recall, the pieces might be larger flaky things(that's the technical term).

Although, not even gonna lie....I would kill for your red substrate or Sam's purple.......

 

[Hao]

If your bored of red garnet. Switch to idaho creek purple garnet from Kleenblast. There's a location near u and should be $16-$20 per 50lb bag. 36 grain or go with 16. Larger grain is slightly a darker purple.

View attachment 1256079

Are the larger grains dark as this?

 

[Hao]

Likewise have heard that about Aquasoil, but I believe Eco-complete is all ready stable
Eco-complete doesn't alter Ph and has all the minerals in it to grow plants. That's about all I can remember. Haven't heard anything about ammonia. Although on the website it does say "will cycle your aquarium faster."


"Eco-Complete contains live heterotrophic bacteria to rapidly convert fish waste into natural food for your aquatic plants. It establishes a natural biological balance, which makes cycling a new aquarium faster and safer. Eco-Complete is packed in Liquid Amazon buffered black water solution for immediate organic water conditioning. Unsurpassed macro-porosity for healthy roots and bacterial efficiency."

- dr.fosters's fish website under "more information"
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=9087



Hao , I would go with the Eco-complete if you like the colors. It's great for plants, looks natural. Just as long as the polys aren't too small. If I recall, the pieces might be larger flaky things(that's the technical term).

Although, not even gonna lie....I would kill for your red substrate or Sam's purple.......

My polys are pretty small 3"-8". I like my red garnet but I liked how it looks in my old tank more when I had a bunch of monster lower jaw bichirs. Not digging it too much in my 150g.

 

[Experiment397]

60lbs of eco complete would be perfect for a thin layer in that tank. Personally I think it looks amazing. super natural colors and really unique flaky "grains" It shouldnt alter your water too much. I would wash it thoroughly, the liquid it is packed in tends to be super cloudy and full of dust off the gravel from shipping. The bacteria you want in your tank from their supposed "live" cultures included in their substrates should already have colonized the gravel and really are unlikely to be free floating in the small amount of liquid that is in the bag. I setup multiple tanks for customers with nothing but ecocomplete and it always blew me away with how cool it looks as the only substrate