plant substrate

[fishfanatic]

Reed with some black. Do you think it would be a good plant substrate?

 

[fishfanatic]

I am shooting for 2-3 inches?

 

[fishfanatic]

I have a problem, they only have 2 bags ( think I need 3) and they are discontinueing it. Should I buy it and fill in with normal gravel or should i bag the whole idea?

 

[fishfanatic]

I was walking around the store and a found another bag but it is black. Would it look bad to have red and black mixed?

 

[rich311k]

It is your tank, if you think it would look ok then go for it. Otherwise you will have to wait for more.

 

[Fishkeeper26]

You could layer the black on the bottom, and the top would almost all be red

 

[mfdrookie516]

I think mixed looks really good. I mixed black floramax with flourite which is red... I really like the look

 

[fishfanatic]

That is good to hear... I already bought it lol. So I got 3 16 pound bags. Will that even be close to enough?

It is a 40 gallon high tank (36*12

 

[Fishkeeper26]

I think it would be, what's the surface area?

 

[mfdrookie516]

I got about the same for my 40 breeder, gave me a little over 2", which is what I wanted.

 

[fishfanatic]

36*12 inches

 

[Fishkeeper26]

Yea you should be fine

 

[fishfanatic]

What are the dimensions of a 40 gallon breeder?

 

[jetajockey]

36x18 (4.5 sq ft)

 

[fishfanatic]

Do I need to remove my fish prior to changing the gravel? The gravel says it is 'pre washed' does that mean I don't need to wash it?

 

[jetajockey]

i don't like dumping substrate all over the fish personally, if its easy to get them out then I would.

I would test that 'pre-rinsed' thing by putting it into a bucket and adding water, see how cloudy it is. if it's not too cloudy then it'll be okay, but I wouldn't trust it. The thing about these fired clay substrates is in packaging/handling I think they tend to build up a bit of dust from the pieces rubbing against one another.

 

[rich311k]

I would remove the fish before changing substrate.

 

[fishfanatic]

would scooping the new substrate up in a cup then reaching in the tank to the bottom then dump it work? I don't like to remove my fish. Should I just scoop out my old gravel with my net?

 

[mfdrookie516]

I would remove them as well. Also, if you want to retain that 'live' thing going, you shouldn't rinse it... At least not in tap water

 

[fishfanatic]

I am not too worried about the 'live' stuff. I think there is enough BB in my canister filter to tide it over. I am going to listen to the advice and remove the fish/plants.