carib substrate

[rick]

getting ready to set up the 65 gal this weekend, anyone ever used carib sand substrate? I am open to any and all feed back. Thanks!

[jon carman]

I used 40 bags of the sahara, black white mix. I love it.

[ree123]

carib = carribian ?
Where are u guys getting this sand ?

[jon carman]

It is in every pet store, it is a brand name

[allierw]

Where are you getting it cheap, Jon? I love the look of it but it's so expensive compared to pool filter sand, especially when you are filling a big tank.

[jon carman]

Fins in Franklin. We have a thing set up where I take pics for them, they give me discounts.
When I buy 40+ bags they get an even bigger discount. Great thing about sand... It doesn't die

[rick]

looks like avg price is 19.00 a bag

[bnoel210]

Just bought a 20lbs bag today for $19

[jon carman]

What type? Some sell for under $20, but most of the african mixes sell for $26-28 that,I have seen. But that is only critter and petsmart.

[bnoel210]

It was the african mix of the peppered sand (white and black). I put it in my 20 i just setup for my breeding krib pair and the female already is getting colored up and ready to lay some eggs.

[ree123]

You partially contribute the feamle Krib. being prompted by the gravel color/type ?

[bnoel210]

Im not sure, but have been testing that theroy out. In my tank i have natural colored sand, peppered and black. My mbuna seemed to me it didnt make a difference, but my kribs yes first the were in natural colored and took forever in between spawns, but since i changed it to peppered its been nonstop. Not sure if it was just luck, but the colored sand was the only thing that changed.

[rickl]

Could the colored sand be having any effect on the water chemistry? Although I have doubts about the long-term effects of "buffering substrates" on water hardness, I'm quite sure that initially they can change the kH of your water, and alot of these carib substrates are buffering substrates (including the white/black peppered "sahara" sand).

Personally I would look towards the potentially changed water paramters before the color of the sand.

-Rick (the armchair aquarist)

[bnoel210]

Well i have been using this type of sand for a year now and all my water params have always been good and fish seem to like it. So if it makes my fish happy it makes me happy.