Good Substrate?

[lilacamy931]

Hello peeps
I am considering a fahaka in my new set up on its own and am trying to consider the best substrate that would be suitable for a burying puff that is kind to its skin...
My options that are easily obtained include:
1. Pea gravel
2. Coral Sand
3. play Sand from Argos
I say these as I have buckets of these strewn around. A thought might be to mix the coral sand in with the play sand to create a coarser mix? I would have thought pea gravel would be too harsh to burrow in so my inkling is sand?

The next question is though play sand is cheap would seeking out the black sand be better as sometimes I read that a darker substrate is better for them? Would appreciate thoughts on this and also any tips for competitive priced stuff in the UK

p.s. the tank is here, though only the cabinet is up the stairs as the LFS needed to bring back the heavy lads to get it up the stairs. Considering the tank hasnt really cost me a penny from trading in a lot of stuff I am really pleased x

[J-P]

Black does bring out the colours. Seachem black Flourite is my fave, but starting it off is a pain.

[Hilly]

If you want a really fine sand see if your LFS can get some BD Aquarium sand, its extremelyfine so perfect if he decides to bury and not very expensive but on the downside it can be a real PITA to remove the poop from it.

I have never really trusted play sand as you never can be sure what exactly is in it. But if you do decide to use it I would wash the hell out of it.

[lilacamy931]

Thanks for the reply peeps! J-P when you say starting off is a pain, why is that? Does the colour leak??

Thanks very much too Hilly, I am thinking perhaps a more aquarium branded sand, once the tank is up may take a trip aways to a local that always does pretty cheap stuff and see what brands they have, thanks very much x

[J-P]

no, there is a brown dust on the surface of the sand. It takes a LONG time to get rid of, but RTR said it is beneficial for start up bacteria to grow. Over time it goes away, but that is usually months. In the meantime it looks really bad

[lilacamy931]

Ah thanks for the heads up, we have been looking at caribsea for starters x

[Nick]

I like pool filter sand much better than play sand. Almost no dust, very even grain size, coarse enough that you can get away with more depth without risk of anaerobic pockets...

Of course with a fish that gets that big, they can probably bury in small smooth gravel pretty easy.

Coral sand will push the PH up about a point, maybe a bit more from where your water is now, unless it's liquid rock. Also, some people get cloudy water from coral sand or CC gravel in fresh water. It has happened to a few people I know, but others have used it fine.

[PolishPuff]

I got some river sand from a river in Wisconsin which looks great in my tank.

I will get another 5 gal bucket of it the next time I go there

[Lil' Swimz$]

I got some river sand from a river in Wisconsin which looks great in my tank.

I will get another 5 gal bucket of it the next time I go there

What sand!? Its all silt around here!

[lilacamy931]

Thanks for all the great suggestions and tips peeps, it is good to know the long term problems of particular substrates. Natural river sand sounds amazing though mostly pebbled streams round here lol