Substrate advice

[Welshy]

Hi I have had my tank set up for the last few years but due to redecorating and also a large hair algae outbreak I will shortly be stripping down the tank and restarting from scratch ( apart from filter media obviously I will keep the filter running in a tub of old tank water while I move) my question is I currently use pool filter sand as my substrate and use root tabs etc but what would people recommend as an alternative, I am going to use a bottom layer of plant substrate but looking for a lighter top substrate not dark like soil but not White like pool filter sand....any suggestions?? Please advise!!!!

 

[BigJim]

Play sand is tan. You can also get red Flourite or gravel.

 

[mfdrookie516]

I like flourite, my plants are doing very good with it... but it clouds up the tank every time I replant. It settles pretty quick, but it's still a pain... and yes, I rinsed it VERY thoroughly. That said, mixing substrate like that will probably end up in a mix of whatever you put in. I'd just leave the PFS and root tabs personally. The only reason I changed from PFS was to get a darker substrate.

 

[Batt4Christ]

The Quikrete pfs around here sounds just like what you are describing.