Opinion on substrates...

[baisley101]

I'm going to do a Mbuna tank. What substrate works best for them. Crushed coral or sand?

[angel]

I'm having a lot of success with CaribSea aragonite with shells in it. Plus it looks good!

[baisley101]

I have seen that and it does look good. I know that you can buy sand really cheap in the hardware stores, but it would be really hard to vacuum it when cleaning and not loose alot of it.

[angel]

I think so too, and is that the type of sand that's used in aquariums? Construction sand might be something different. I'm not sure. I was reading, though, that Tropheus do very well in sand.

[jon carman]

The only down side to sand is that my python always sucks it out. It also can get gas build up or something like that if it isn't stirred up every now and then. Other than that it is the best. The draw back to a rock/shell/coral substrate is that cichlids like to move them with their mouth and spit them. This has scratched my glass before.

[angel]

But have you ever seen them play shell-ball? It's so cute! Mine get a shell and volley it back and forth.

[braincandie]

as i am new, i still use gravel in my 37g african tank, and river pebbles in my 55g kids tank. after looking at your aquariums im scared to post pictures of my aquariums... but im thinking about using black sand in my 37g, im just waiting to see what kind of fish im going to have in it before i go through removing the gravel and replacing it.

[angel]

I was afraid to post pics of my aquariums too--I like themes and so many like natural decor. I thought everyone would feel like I was abusing my fish to put them in the ruins. But it's all in what we like, and as long as the fish have places to hide it's cool. One thing to remember--or learn, if just getting started in Africans, is less substrate is more. The recommendation is none to 1/4". I can see the reasoning in that, too--things get stuck in there--and they do like to pick at them. Then there's all the things to hide in. Those seem more important anyway.

[braincandie]

well I have a very nice piece of driftwood in my African tank, and all the African tanks I've seen on the internet has a bunch of stacked stones... but I like the piece of driftwood way to much to take it out =]

[angel]

If the fish like the wood, then by all means leave it! There's wood in the South American tank here, but the reason I don't have wood in my African tanks is because I don't care for wood. If you have plecos, I've recently been told they usually do like and need wood. Roger and I were just having a discussion about wood and how it shouldn't lower ur ph if u haven't got a ton of it in there. Know what? The South Americans love their wood and play under it.

[baisley101]

I've read online of people using pool filter sand and other types from Lowe's or Home Depot, but I think I'm going to go with crushed coral. I don't want to be sucking sand out everytime I clean the tank.

[rogerhopper]

I use swimming pool sand. I have it in the geophagus tank I am doing now.
It is easy cleaned and syphons very well. It is heavier than construction sand and playground sand. For mbuna's I think crushed coral will keep the PH at a constant level, and high enough for mbuna's.

[tmom]

I've used pool filter sand and it is awesome! It's a heavier sand and doesn't go up the python. It's soft enough for cories, too. Playsand is lighter and will go up the python.

[angel]

What about live sand? What's in it and is it for saltwater only or for African tanks? Does it go up the python?

[jon carman]

Cool, I've heard that about the pool sand. I might vacuum out the play sand in my fishroom and replace it with pool sand.