Substrate?

[Konigwolf]

Hi, Since all my my tanks will be getting a revamp very soon I think I really need look at what substrate is best for my apisto's. I currently use 3mm "coffs harbor" australian name for mostley brown with some variation from white to balck. What I was wondering how do apisto's react to substrate colour? I know some fish can darken up over dark, wash-out over light etc, whats best to make them A happy and B doesnt negatively affect their colour

Also pebble vs sand what do they really prefer?
Anyopinions please

 

[jose_vogel]

To enlight their colours, I think that a dark substrate is better.

But, because they´re geophagine, they like to "chew earth", so I prefer to use just neutral silica sand.

Bye

 

[ed seeley]

I use a fairly light coloured sand and like the way the fish can sift through it. I also find that they tend to adapt to the lightness and colour up fine.

 

[ste12000]

I use childrens playpit sand and a black/gray 2mm gravel mixed 50/50. I find the females are able to block the cave entrances fine with this and they also show great colour. I will soon be trying oak leaves aswel to give the breeding tanks an authentic apperance.

 

[Apistomaster]

I prefer fine sand so they can sift and also bed their young without sinking between grains. Silica sand is chemically inert which is helpful when trying to maintain a pH and hardness set point. It seems to have found very wide acceptance if the photos in Aqualog SA Cichlids II is a guide.

I haven't ever tried the play sand to find out if it affects water chemistry but I like the natural color.

 

[jose_vogel]

What´s the difference between silica sand and play sand?

 

[Konigwolf]

I used both a light sand (the garden shop where I purchased it called it "washed" and it was, it only required a quick rinse) and playpit sand a couple of years ago, neither affected water chemistry at all. In hind sight my dwarves bred better with sand sand than with pebbles, but it was a bugger to keep clean if their was any degree of planting, ie hard to manouver the syphon. Since I've decided to go back to sand (probably a medium to dark sand, with 25-40% black or black/white pebble mix - see what looks good). Any suggestions on keeping a well planted tank poo reduced would be good

All my tanks are about this level of planted

BTW, thanks for all reply's/suggestions so far