Live Substrate

[thompson]

I want to apply the same concept to my freshwater as i do with my salt water tank by having the deep live sand bed. Does anyone know of a good substarte to use to do this and what kind of microfuana is required. I was just wondering..

thanks for the suggestions,
chris

[organicreefer]

what kind of tank?you should try and resaerch a little on planted tanks,this will give you some ideas.i use a dsb on my 85 g african cichlid tank,and i wish i could get my hands on some micro-fauna from lake malawi.there is even this thing called a "malawi sponge"a cool looking thing thats looks like ,well,a white sea sponge i dont know anything else about it ,or if anyone has kept it in an aquarium,but i always thought it would be cool.
anyway,since i have no creatures to stir the sand(ecxept for my africans)i have a substrate heater,witch causes the water to flow through it,so ive read.whatever it is ,it works, and nitrates are undetectable.i use a combination of aragonite sand,cc,and silica sand(mostly silica).give it a try,add some plants if you can,and i think youll be pleased with youre freshwater natural system.hth

[thompson]

thanks for the reply... i have an 80 gallon with a 2 central american cichlids... 14" Oscar and 5" convict.. i have tried sand before but without anything stiring the sand i got a build up of sulfer in the sand.. this was only a 2" sb though.. have you ever heard of anything good about flourite substrate and plants combination.. i am trying for the natural look with the least amount of maintanance (cleang the gravel with a python)..

thanks,
chris