which substrate should i add to my 29 gallon

stephanieleah

I am going to add more substrate to my 29 gallon tank as suggested to prevent my plants from uprooting (can't plant them deeply enough). Well, I have regular gravel mixed with flourite black right now, and I was wondering if there is a finer gravel available that isn't sand. I want something finer to put on top so that my loaches can dig around with their noses and not harm their barbels. Any suggestions on brands or sizes? My LFS was pretty limited, but maybe there's something outside of the pet store to buy?

I'm also thinking that finer gravel may sink anyway, making the whole thing meaningless...any advice?

Byron

Unless your existing gravel is sharp-edged, I would stay with it. Smaller gravel or sand will mix down with what is already there, especially with bottom fish sifting through it. And I would not use enriched substrate on top, but gravel if you already that in the mix. These will also mix together over time, that's fine.

I have dwarf loaches and Angelica loaches in my 70 with regular aquarium gravel and they seem to be having a high-ho time. And my dozens of Corydoras in the SA tanks over the same gravel. In 15 years I have never had problems with this.

I would suggest sand if you have Horseface loaches, as this species regularly loves to bury themselves completely, with only the eyes protruding, and mine appreciated sand.

Byron.

Angel079

You know when I set up my new tanks here I actually came to realize that since when I last had set up new one's the gravel "style" changed. Not only was it superst hard around here to find fine gravel (and not this pea sized borderline peanut sized) but the color OH MY GOD....anything BUT natural - Its hurts your eyes......Like I said took forever till I found the fine black gravel (would have pref dark brown but couldn't find it).

Just push a lil extra gravel from one end of your tank to the other so you have a lil deeper "pile" there and stick your plants in it.

stephanieleah

I've tried that but I thin i have really active fish on the bottom because the gravel always evens back out, exposing the roots of all my echinodorus or whatever. Even one of my valls was uprooted yesterday, and that thing has some roots!

The only gravels I could find were very large compared to my current size, except for the enriched substrates. I'll just wait for the right one to appear otherwise I'll go for the big one.

@Byron thanks for the input on the loaches...now I feel okay with my current substrate for my yo-yo's.

Angel079

Dang girl, that really sounds like you got wee too lil gravel there.....And you can't get any more of your original at the store you got it before at all?

stephanieleah

well i used the enriched substrate before (it's finer) mixed with the large gravel, but i want something in between. they have pea-sized, and sand-sized, basically.

Angel079

Check at various Petco around you....after a while & a LOT driving that's where I finally found my rounded black one and its sized around 2-3mm which I find perfect for plants (not the big chunky colorful flashy stuff lol)

Mean Harri

As with each aspect of this hobby: Lighting, substrate, plants, etc... I researched my heart out on each one. I decided to get Eco-Complete (black) substrate. It has a mix of sizes and eventually the finer particles settle to the bottom. I've read all good about it and according to users plants anchor well to it.