Substrate Question

Yes the darker substrate should bring out their colouring nicely. The dark will make the lighter pieces of their pattern pop

 

Darker sand will definitely bring out the colours.
But the play sand is cheap and easy.

I just bought a 20kg bag of play sand (R35) from Toys R Us at Montana Crossings on Saturday to put into my 3ft tank. I washed it and used about half a bag to give me an inch of sand.

I also bought a bag of play sand from the plant park the week before for R25 and it was much too fine to use in water and it was full of clay and other crap. Stay far away!

I put in a 7kg bag of Seachem Flourite and covered it with play sand in my other 3ft tank and the plants love it.

 

Woops, sorry...

 

Seachem Flourite??

 

If you're keeping cichlids I'm assuming you won't be keeping plants.
In which case Flourite is pointless... it's a mineral-rich substrate to help with plant growth.

I stand under correction, but don't those cichlids also like digging? Because if that's the case then you'd be best off with something cheap so you can give them a nice deep substrate to dig around in.

 

Correct, Jaguar Cichlids are formidable diggers, thats why I would get like 30kg's of substrate and that would make my substrate about 3cm deep.

 

Then in that case I'd say go with the pool filter sand. The pool shop in the Kolonnade was selling 40kg bags for around R40 or R50 last time I asked, and it's relatively fine stuff. That way you could give them 4 or 5cm of play area

 

Hey guys I have a bag full and Im moving in a week down to george so if any one want to collect it no problem i am in Kempton Park,

I have a pair of killi fish the kind that breeds in sub straight. I have some pool sand but Im worried that its to thick the other idea is that I have some peat I bought form a nursery the problem is can i use it?

 

I dont know about the Peat, I think it will make the water rather dirty not?
The bag you are referring to, is that now black sand??

 

No the sand is in different bad and still almost new?

 

Jody,

Playpen sand would be 1st prize, in my opinion, as it just looks a lot more real. The plants also thrive in the more finer sand, and if you keep any bottom feeding fish, the finer sand is less harsh on their barbles.

Pool filter sand is also a good option. Also alright for plants.

Both playpen and pool filter sand will need to be washed VERY THOROUGHLY. Set aside a few hours and a lot of water to do so.

Play pen sand available from reggies. Just ensure it is not treated with chemicals.
Pool filter sand available from builder's for about R50.00 per bag.

In a 1.2m you would probably use 0.75 - 1.0 bags of sand, depending on the depth you want. Remember the deeper the better for the roots of the plants.

 

Oh oK, I hope it will work for you. Keep us updated