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Aquarium Gravel:
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![[18 Pounds] Aquarium Gravel River Rock, Natural Polished Decorative Gravel,Garden Outdoor Ornamental River Pebbles Rocks, Polished Gravel, Mixed Color Stones,for Landscaping, Vase Fillers (20)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51wHdLAaTZL._SL500_.jpg)
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So the only thing I have against Eco-Complete is how insanely expensive it is. According to the instructions on the bag and the current prices on amazon, we're looking at $85 - $170 just for substrate.
Compare that to the pool filter sand at only $25 - $50
The substrate I used was SeaChem Flourtie Black Freshwater Substrate. I have never tried to put sand on top of my gravel, actually I have always been afraid to. I applaud your bravery. I think that that would actually work well, I have always been intimated by mixing or Layering substrates that I have only ever used fluorite black for my planted tanks.
Okay, couple thoughts:
Do you already know about the nitrogen cycle and is there a heater and filter on the tank already? If not I can talk you through fish-in cycling. My first betta years ago died slowly because no one had ever explained it to me and I felt awful.
I’d see if you can exchange the mollies & guppies for 2 more corydoras (get the same types that you already have). Shoaling species prefer to be in groups of 6+, and this community can be a touch intense about this “rule”, however, from my personal experience a group of 4 cories is generally pretty chill and not freaked out and stressed and will be fine until you have the space to get a bunch of them. They’re also a nice choice to stick with because bettas usually tolerate them really well.
You can often get used big tanks for dirt cheap on Craigslist or fb marketplace. Someone is giving me a 40 gallon with all the stuff included for free just because they don’t want it in their house anymore.
Live plants really make all the difference and if you get a bag like this you can literally just like push plants into it and they’ll get enough nutrients. Floating betta logs have been really popular in this community too, bettas get kinda tired when they have those big flowy fins so they take little naps inside the logs and it’s cute :)
Because the beneficial bacteria reside on surfaces in a cycled tank rather than in the actual water I don’t think that would do much, if you get your new emergency tank, condition the water and get the filter going, put some plants in there (if you get substrate like this, rinse it til the water runs clear, then use it as your “gravel” then you can put live plants directly into it), and then in your already cycled guppy tank maybe put a fresh sponge filter directly into the filter for a few days so some beneficial bacteria go on it, then in a couple days you can put that sponge filter directly on the betta’s new filter, it may help to jumpstart the nitrogen cycle by a couple weeks.
This stuff is awesome. Very fine sand. Feels like fine sugar.
Just like any substrate, make sure to wash it really good before you lay it down.
Wanted to give Mardy a sandbox in his tank and let him dig, so I gave him some Zoo Med excavator clay with a cave in a plastic tub and he seemed to really enjoy it.
Well, at his regular check-up the vet felt some concerning bumps and recommended either scheduling a follow-up in a couple weeks or taking an x-ray now and see what's going on in there. To quote the vet: "It's a party in there!"
Luckily he doesn't seem to be impacted and all the substrate seems to be moving through just fine, but the fact that he's INTAKING rocks is a problem. I'm not surprised, just disappointed.
So Mr. Untrustworthy has had his sandbox privileges permanently revoked, and I'll be making sure he gets plenty of fiber in his diet.
Try excavator clay! Its made for bearded dragons and leopard geckos. Add water and boom! Its all done. Use a balloon to make it retain its shape! I found some for cheap on amazon (:
So this is Vanilla and her current setup. She used to live in one of those crappy 2 story cages until I convinced my sibling to get her a bin cage. My sibling isn’t caring for her anymore (besides her being his responsibility) so I took over her care. I don’t know a lot about hamsters but I want to give her the best setup I possibly can to help her thrive. She’s currently so stressed she climbs on the mesh lid :(.
Ill have an empty 15 gallon soon for her as I’m upgrading my goldfish to a 70 gallon. (Dimensions are 60x30x34cm) do you think this will be okay for her? She’s a Russian dwarf I believe.
Het current care is this: Small bin (im unsure of the size. I can’t find anything to measure it with.) with cotton substrate (there’s paper mixed in this because the plain cotton substrate isn’t sold anymore in the pet store.) I don’t think it allows for burrowing very well though… She has a small sand bath, a basic plastic drinking thing and a wheel that’s too small. a single wooden hide, a tube type thing and a ladder but that’s it. I sprinkle a hamster food mix around her enclosure 1-2x a week.
Can anyone give me tips and/or an in depth care guide or other sources? I’ve owned hamsters as a child but… yk how it goes when you give hamsters to kids.
Also, I was wondering something. There’s this product that people use to make custom reptile backgrounds. (I’ll be using this for my gecko.) do you think I could use this to make a stable setup? Its similar to hardened clay. I’m not sure if it’s safe due to chewing. Does anyone have any other things I could use that I could sculpt other than wood?
Plant and shrimp aquarium substrate. It's super easy to use and my plants seem to like it.
Aqueon Plant and Shrimp Aquarium Substrate 5 Pounds https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HGKK59Q/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_JTRBTAS0WS8TCS4HCC40
No. This one is for a salt water / marine set ups and not fresh water and it looks too course anyway. The Caribsea brand does have some that you can use, look for ph neutral and make sure it is very fine. This one, for example: Carib Sea ACS05839 Super Natural Sunset Gold Sand for Aquarium, 5-Pound https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004LOETI0/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_ZZXHS7YYN7RV90B83RD4
here's a substrate guide.
The most common substrate recommend is the topsoil/playsand mix shown in the first section of that guide. It's hard to give links for that because everyone's local home improvement stores have different stock. But overall you want organic topsoil with no added fertilizer or perlite, sifted to ensure it's free of debris. Then pre-washed and screened playsand, which you should wash again to remove dust.
You can also add excavator clay into the mix to add in some holding power for it your gecko digs. That can be purchased off amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Excavator-Burrowing-Substrate/dp/B000N5OM8S
If you do gravel, I’ve used this and it locks in place, just need to do a light touch up once a year I think but it stays solid if you have around an inch.
Vuba Easihold Resin Binder for Gravel, Stones, Mulch & Bark - Non Toxic, High Strength, Permeable (169.07 us fl oz) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z4SWCHT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_NHHGF49GQHAYF0VWP4NJ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
If you're looking for substrate for a planted aquarium you're not likely to find much under 10 bucks
This looks to be the cheapest and smallest package
Aqueon Plant and Shrimp Aquarium Substrate 5 Pounds https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07HGKK59Q/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_JFSQFHBVXQ74A5SH04F7
I can't to speak to it's quality, all my tanks are fluorite which seems to work well combined with root tabs, particularly for crown plants like crypts and swords, stem plants can be difficult to get anchored and rooted, but that's gonna be like upwards of 20 bucks for like a 7 pound bag, this looks like the cheapest color available
Seachem Flourite Red Clay Gravel- Substrate for Planted Aquarium, 7.7 lb Bag https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00GJX0E08/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_MYXJRX0ADARSK7JF6QD7
Vuba Easihold Resin Binder for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z4SWCHT?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Consider this if you choose gravel. I used it and it works great. You can spray it on too.
I did it in a couple of layers to ensure the bottom ones got enough. Perhaps I overdid it but it’s on the ground solid. I step on it frequently to test it and I’ve broken loose single pieces of gravel but never chunks of them. I suspect for your area you wouldn’t step on any.
And they do keep the drainage you want. I could see a downside though is perhaps small debris could collect easier in the holes and perhaps eventually ‘clog’ if they collect at the bottom pieces of gravel.
Excellent point overall though I will say for the budging point I’ve had good l trying this for the first time a few months back.
Vuba Easihold Resin Binder for... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z4SWCHT?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I keep testing it by stepping on and have broke away single pieces of gravel but no large chunks of them.
I want to upgrade my betta to a 10g and give him a properly planted tank. I was checking walmart and "aqueon plant and shrimp aquarium substrate" is on sale! Will this work? link to the same stuff on amazon
I use Carib sea peace river sand. It’s pebbley sand so it’s densely packed and it’s light enough for burrowing. SuperNaturals Peace River 20LB https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002APMU6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_47GYFSW4SJ3F933MPRSK?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Can you define detritus and what you used to cover the bottom? I want to switch to fairy shrimp from brine shrimp as I don't care for the fiddliness of maintaining salt water. I found this, but not sure if that's what you are using. Will be ordering the 50 beaver tail shrimp eggs from arizona shrimp.
I use Seachem Flourish root tabs (but NOT the liquid stuff, maybe I had a bad batch but every time I used it even a drop it melted my plants) and so far my favorite gravel is this:
SuperNaturals Peace River 20LB https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002APMU6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_Q8PH3AM7KT5054CGARDG?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Its smaller grained and just looks nicer!
Here’s a close up from my tank, the lights were set to have redder hues so it looks more red than it really is.
I’m glad ! I have this in my aquarium right now, it’s worked well for my anubias and unknown carpeting plant. I’d recommend buying more substrate than you need just so you don’t have too little, the bag said 8.8 lbs would cover my tank with 2 inches and it’s barely 1 inch.
Kuhlis leach's like to dig they prefer a sandy substrate or at the very least a more smooth uniform substrate Aqueon Plant and Shrimp Aquarium Substrate
Great looking tank though💖
Lol it's Aqueon Plant & Shrimp substrate. It doesn't help lower pH and the balls are pretty light, so I'd recommend the Fluval Plant & Shrimp stratum. With the Aqueon, I have to feed the corys their food on a leaf so it doesn't fall into the substrate where they can't reach it.
Ahh, I’ll have to grab some vinegar and test them, thanks for the info!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DH0QM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_Q0NQEMEAQXTKS49A5N99
That is the substrate I use. (I’m on mobile, so I’m not sure if the link works) Caribsea substrate
As long as the grains are light enough for them to dig in it's fine - for example my substrate is technically more like a small gravel than it is sand.
I'm curious though - if you're willing to buy from Amazon then why isn't sand still an option?
CaribSea Eco-Complete 20-Pound Planted Aquarium, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DH0QM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_QN787CPTN6F3QRVF6Z7M I got this stuff about a year ago, it’s been doing this for maybe 6 months however
Here you go. It's worth noting for this you want to use it during a fishless cycle as it is known for helping start the cycle but also can cause stress for fish because of it (which is where a lot of bad reviews can come from - people who don't understand that this isn't something you just throw in whenever.)
I did a lot of reading around before I finally took the plunge. But I had treated her once with Diatomaceous Earth for mites and she did this so I knew it was something she'd enjoy.
I used natural reptile sand-- rinsed and baked it in the oven to sterilize first.
Here's the kind I got if interested: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004LOETI0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1