Substrate

[Fishninja]

Hey guys I am planning a 55 gallon

I am getting polka dot loaches
A rainbow shark
And tiger barbs


I need help with what the best substrate would be. And if it is sand how do you guys suggest cleaning it

 

[Fishninja]

Can anyone help

 

[Fishninja]

Hello anyone there

 

[herp_mommy]

Will you be planting the tank?

 

[Fishninja]

Yes I will

 

[herp_mommy]

I would go with Eco complete then.

 

[Dubs1281]

I would go with Eco complete then.

You can use eco complete as a base substrate. So the roots get the nutrients, but you dont need to buy as much, then use a sand to cover it up.

 

[Fishninja]

Ok thanks

 

[azmodan]

To answer your sand question: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/introduction-adding-decor-aquarium/

 

[Fishninja]

How do u clean sand

 

[bmarine]

Put it in buckets, soak with water, stir it up, then dump out the water/dust and stuff, but leave the sand in the bucket, then fill it up again and repeat until the water is clean.

 

[Fishninja]

I know that but u siphon gravel so how do you clean it when it gets dirty

 

[Sillyfishies]

I know that but u siphon gravel so how do you clean it when it gets dirty

Just hover your gravel vac over the poop.

Easier way to clean sand: put it in a plastic bottle (2 liter pop bottle is what I did)
Put pop bottle in tank UPRIGHT, and wait for it to fill up with water (it will stop bubbling).
Dump the sand out and all the cloudiness and floaty sand will stay in the bottle

 

[Fishninja]

So a monthly clean is done by hovering over the sand and picking up poop right

 

[Sillyfishies]

So a monthly clean is done by hovering over the sand and picking up poop right

Weekly.

 

[Fishninja]

Ok thanks

 

[Matt68005]

yes, you can use methylene blue with the sand and hot water to stearliize it once it rinses clear, and yes you just hover over the sand about 3 inches and let the suction suck up the poo. Do a 25% change once a week on your day off. Its really not that hard with a python. And your fish will be happier/healthier. Especially if its newly setup tank make sure you add Stress zyme to kick start the bio filter bed.

 

[Sillyfishies]

yes, you can use methylene blue with the sand and hot water to stearliize it once it rinses clear, and yes you just hover over the sand about 3 inches and let the suction suck up the poo. Do a 25% change once a week on your day off. Its really not that hard with a python. And your fish will be happier/healthier. Especially if its newly setup tank make sure you add Stress zyme to kick start the bio filter bed.

Another person from omaha! I only know of 3 other people on this forum.

Never heard if sterilizing the sand! But that doesn't mean you can!