Substrate for Soft Water Shrimp

Newjohn · Post by **Newjohn** » Thu Sep 07, 2006 6:10 pm

badflash
Thank You
For the information.

I quess it of to home depot in the morning.

In my hard water tanks, I would buy the normal play sand.
And sift it through a 5gal paint strainer net.
It has the same size holes as a fish net.

This would get out the fine sand and dust.
But, out of a 50lb bag, I would only get about 7lbs of substrate.

I know this would not work for you. With your undergroung filter.

But, It does make for a very different look. for anyone interested in trying it.
There is still alot of color, just in smaller pieces.

John

Ecir · Post by **Ecir** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 7:55 am

Hi John,

Another option is to look up sandblasting companies in your area, not sure how much you're paying for your play sand but we've been getting 50lbs bags of fine silica sand for 12$ a bag.

Ecir

Post by **Mustafa** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:01 am

badflash wrote: I get it from Home Depot, a brand called Vigoro Pea Pebbles. I rinse this in an acid bath to remove any carbonates for a soft water tank, then rinse it really well before adding to a new tank.

I think you can spare yourself the acid bath treatment. I just recently bought some Vigoro "River Pebbles", which are just a larger version of the pea pebbles (because HD had run out of the river pebbles) and it is inert. I tested it with hydrochloric acid on a sampling of pebbles and there was no fizzing.

Neonshrimp · Post by **Neonshrimp** » Fri Sep 08, 2006 9:27 am

I think you can spare yourself the acid bath treatment. I just recently bought some Vigoro "River Pebbles", which are just a larger version of the pea pebbles (because HD had run out of the river pebbles) and it is inert. I tested it with hydrochloric acid on a sampling of pebbles and there was no fizzing.

Thanks for the tip, I will remember to try this in my new tank.

Newjohn · Post by **Newjohn** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 6:31 am

Well
Just one more question.

Is there a better size for the sub-strate?
Will a larger size pebble pormote the growth of micro-organism's ?
Since it has more surface area.

Or, Does it realy matter ?

John

badflash · Post by **badflash** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:16 am

The pea sized is the best for shrimp with my system. It is large enough it won't go through the under gravel filter, but has many times the surface area of the larger pebbles. Surface area is the thing you need for the bacteria. Too small and it clogs, too large & the shrimp can go through. Mustafa doesn't use an UGF, so the last isn't an issue for him. If you are just putting it on the bottom for a place for bacteria for the shrimp to grow, larger is probably just the same as smaller.

Pea sized also alows you to anchor plants a little better if you use them.

Newjohn · Post by **Newjohn** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 7:30 am

Use plants
Yes, I have aleast Java Moss, Java Fern, and Nubius Nana in every tank.

I have been experimenting with different size stones "pebbles", and course sand.

I believe the more different color the substrate has, brings out the color in the Shrimp.

But, with all of the talk, about Micro-organism's ."leaf litter"
I was looking for the best substrate to help also.

badflash
Thank You
For your information

John