WaterPond
Aug 30th 2007, 05:28 PM
Substrate
Introduction
There are many decorative substrates available for your aquarium. Some help plants grow, some complement fish's colours, and some types are are meant for certain types of fish. One must choose a proper substrate for the type of fish they keep, but it should also be pleasing to look at, as aquariums are used as decorative accents to homes. You do not want something that you won't enjoy looking at.
Choosing the Right Substrate
There are many different types of fish that need different types of substrate. Here are the typical categories.
Substrates for burrowing fish: Fish such as loaches and some types of catfish will like to burrow themselves in the gravel. This is where they feel most secure. For these types of fish, substrate should be fine and easy to move through, sands such as play sand and silica sand are perfect. You want to make sure that the sand does not have sharp grains, as fish like loaches have no scales which protect them. Also make sure that the substrate has a buffering capacity which is in the fish's range of pH preference.
Planted tank Substrates: Although special substrates are not used in all planted tanks (nor do they need to be) plants can benefit greatly from enriched substrates. These substrates are usually not manufactured but taken right from certain types of aquatic plants natural habitats. Many of these types of substrate can change your water chemistry. Some of these types of substrates include Flourite, Eco-Complete, and Amazonia Aqua soil. Fertilizers are available to add nutrients to substrates not meant for plants.
Substrates for African Cichlids: Most african cichlids need sandy substrates just like the kind found in the rift lakes in which they live. Sand can range from fine to course. It is best to have a sand that will give the water a higher pH. Substrates like aragonite sand work fine. Some african cichlids like to move sand around when breeding. This makes it easier for them aswell. Cichlids like shelldwellers absolutely need fine sand because they makes hole in the sand around their shells. Most malawi mbuna, haps, and peacocks, aswell as some tanganikan and victorian cichlids can live with epoxy or natural gravel.
Substrates for most other fish: Whatever you think looks best, and will have a buffering capacity which will suit the fish's pH needs.
Changing Your Substrate
Whatever type of substrate you have, it will hold millions of tiny beneficial bacteria which convert ammonia from fish waste into nitrate which is utilized by plants. It is not recommended that you totally remove all substrate and add the new stuff all at once. Here is a method that i have had great success with.
1. Choose the new substrate you want to replace the old stuff with
2. Gather supplies such as a small shovel or dust pan and pantyhose.
3. Remove fish and decor from the tank and place into a temporary holding tank (rubbermaid bin) with heater, and airstone or filter/pump
4. Scoop the old gravel up with the shovel/dust pan and place into the pantyhose, once full, tie a knot at the top of the pantyhose
5. Do not rinse old gravel yet, leave in the pantyhose in a corner of the tank.
6. Rinse new substrate as needed and place into the tank.
7. Fill with water and turn on filter, wait for cloudiness to settle.
8. Add fish and decor back to the tank once cloudiness settles.
9. Remove the pantyhose with gravel 3-5 days later. This should have provided appropriate time for bacteria from the old gravel to seen the new gravel. This saves you from a mini cycle during the changing of the gravel
10. Enjoy your new gravel!
**DO NOT CLEAN FILTER OR DECOR DURING THIS TIME. WAIT AT LEAST A WEEK LATER TO DO YOUR FILTER MAINTENANCE**
Introduction
There are many decorative substrates available for your aquarium. Some help plants grow, some complement fish's colours, and some types are are meant for certain types of fish. One must choose a proper substrate for the type of fish they keep, but it should also be pleasing to look at, as aquariums are used as decorative accents to homes. You do not want something that you won't enjoy looking at.
Choosing the Right Substrate
There are many different types of fish that need different types of substrate. Here are the typical categories.
Substrates for burrowing fish: Fish such as loaches and some types of catfish will like to burrow themselves in the gravel. This is where they feel most secure. For these types of fish, substrate should be fine and easy to move through, sands such as play sand and silica sand are perfect. You want to make sure that the sand does not have sharp grains, as fish like loaches have no scales which protect them. Also make sure that the substrate has a buffering capacity which is in the fish's range of pH preference.
Planted tank Substrates: Although special substrates are not used in all planted tanks (nor do they need to be) plants can benefit greatly from enriched substrates. These substrates are usually not manufactured but taken right from certain types of aquatic plants natural habitats. Many of these types of substrate can change your water chemistry. Some of these types of substrates include Flourite, Eco-Complete, and Amazonia Aqua soil. Fertilizers are available to add nutrients to substrates not meant for plants.
Substrates for African Cichlids: Most african cichlids need sandy substrates just like the kind found in the rift lakes in which they live. Sand can range from fine to course. It is best to have a sand that will give the water a higher pH. Substrates like aragonite sand work fine. Some african cichlids like to move sand around when breeding. This makes it easier for them aswell. Cichlids like shelldwellers absolutely need fine sand because they makes hole in the sand around their shells. Most malawi mbuna, haps, and peacocks, aswell as some tanganikan and victorian cichlids can live with epoxy or natural gravel.
Substrates for most other fish: Whatever you think looks best, and will have a buffering capacity which will suit the fish's pH needs.
Changing Your Substrate
Whatever type of substrate you have, it will hold millions of tiny beneficial bacteria which convert ammonia from fish waste into nitrate which is utilized by plants. It is not recommended that you totally remove all substrate and add the new stuff all at once. Here is a method that i have had great success with.
1. Choose the new substrate you want to replace the old stuff with
2. Gather supplies such as a small shovel or dust pan and pantyhose.
3. Remove fish and decor from the tank and place into a temporary holding tank (rubbermaid bin) with heater, and airstone or filter/pump
4. Scoop the old gravel up with the shovel/dust pan and place into the pantyhose, once full, tie a knot at the top of the pantyhose
5. Do not rinse old gravel yet, leave in the pantyhose in a corner of the tank.
6. Rinse new substrate as needed and place into the tank.
7. Fill with water and turn on filter, wait for cloudiness to settle.
8. Add fish and decor back to the tank once cloudiness settles.
9. Remove the pantyhose with gravel 3-5 days later. This should have provided appropriate time for bacteria from the old gravel to seen the new gravel. This saves you from a mini cycle during the changing of the gravel
10. Enjoy your new gravel!
**DO NOT CLEAN FILTER OR DECOR DURING THIS TIME. WAIT AT LEAST A WEEK LATER TO DO YOUR FILTER MAINTENANCE**