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HI,

I have very fine gravel in my fish tank, but want to switch to a sandy bottom. Has anybody used any kind of sand with clown loaches/cories/other catfish with barbels and can you make some recommendations and maybe link me to pics of the substrate. We dont get branded substrate in India, so I would also need some suggestions on how to check it wont leech into the water.

Thanks!
Clowny

Personally I would run a mile from sand if you are having CLs one reason as you know they just love digging and shifting the substrate all the time. By doing this there would all ways be sand particles floating around and you can gurantee before very long you would be posting a question what is wrong with my filter. Sand will just chew up an impella very fast it would only take one fine grain of sand to start off the process.

I would stick to a good 1-3ml natural river stones or what they ever call it.

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Keith

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I'd tend to agree with Keith, loaches are famous for moving things around in the gravel. I have some medium fine gravel mixed with large, so pebbles from about 1/8 inch to about 1-1/8 inch , and they just keep uprooting everything in the tank even tho it's weighted down with some of the larger stones.
Oh, and sand WILL tear up a filter lickity split.

Provided you're not looking to breed, sand is by far the most natural and best overall substrate for any barbel-bound fish, nay, any fish in general. Not only is it more natural, it is softer and better on the eyes of the aquarist, better for the mouth/feeler definition on the fish, and, if done right, far cleaner than any gravel bed could possibly be.

Ok, then my next question. I have some light brown and white and cream coloured fine gravel in my tank and the tank really looks too brown what with yellow clowns and this mix of gravel and lots of drift wood. Hubby wants to replace it with some small white gravel, obviously sand is out of the question now. Would white be too stark and unnatural?

I would have to agree with Keith and Diver, specially with the part when Diver goes coz I have dust particles perpetually floating around in the tank everytime my husband goes overboard with the sinking or algae wafers. Then he goes into compulsive cleaning mode and keeps wondering why he simply cannot get the dust to settle

White is too glarey at any time and CLs do not like glare that is one of the reasons they love caves and plenty of cover to hunt and hide in. Can you post a photo of the gravel you have in the tank now please.

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Keith

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Here's a picture of the gravel in the tank and the fake fibre drift wood at the back. That's the only fake piece I have in the tank, the others are natural driftwoods that are brown in colour. As you can see, the colour of the clowns and the colour of the gravel pretty much matches

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d152/clownygirl/Clown%20Loaches/DSCF2135.jpg

Hi there,
if you use white the loaches will wash right out
and again wont stand out well.
Your best bet is a dark black substrate.
Id go with small round smooth stone substrate,
or Eco Complete.


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I think that gravel is too white try to locate a good natural colours as in river pebbles it will work the best.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

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Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
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