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#1
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Onyx Sand
Hello,
Currently I am using Fluorite but I was wondering if Onyx sand is any better in terms of plant growth and water clarity? Does it have to be washed a "thousand" times like fluorite (phew!)? How about Red Sea's Flora Base? I understand it doesn't need to be washed - great, eh? I know the price is exorbitant, too (C$49.99 @ Big Al's and I thought Fluorite @ C$29.99 was pricey enough ) Anyways, TIA for any helpful suggestion. __________________________________________________ ________________ dALoneR Mishtaah ICQ#: 1339628 Current ICQ status: ( Home Tel#: na na na ( Work Tel#: la la la 7 Fax#: up yourz + More ways to contact me __________________________________________________ ________________ |
#2
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Onyx Sand
Thanks a ton, guys! Appreciate your input.
"Pat" wrote in message . .. Hello, Currently I am using Fluorite but I was wondering if Onyx sand is any better in terms of plant growth and water clarity? Does it have to be washed a "thousand" times like fluorite (phew!)? How about Red Sea's Flora Base? I understand it doesn't need to be washed - great, eh? I know the price is exorbitant, too (C$49.99 @ Big Al's and I thought Fluorite @ C$29.99 was pricey enough ) Anyways, TIA for any helpful suggestion. __________________________________________________ ________________ dALoneR Mishtaah ICQ#: 1339628 Current ICQ status: ( Home Tel#: na na na ( Work Tel#: la la la 7 Fax#: up yourz + More ways to contact me __________________________________________________ ________________ |
#3
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Onyx Sand
If you are lucky and don't have fish or plants in the tank yet or
waiting to be put into the tank you can do what I did when I had onyx sand. I just dumped each bag into the tank. Then I repeatedly filled the tank with water, swished the sand around with my hand and drained it with the python. I repeated a few times and it was still cloudy, so I left it overnight and the next morning it was fairly clear so I added plants and started the filter up. By the evening it was crystal clear. I agree, however, give it a few rinses only. It seems like you can rinse onyx sand or flourite forever and not get clear water. You want all those small particles that make the water look murky though, it's just a matter of letting them settle to the bottom. It doesn't hurt the fish or plants any if the tank is cloudy from the addition of the substrate, it just bothers the eyes when you are peering into what seems like a pitch black tank. I did that with a second tank, didn't even bother rinsing onyx sand and the fish were perfectly happy even though the water was foggy and you could barely make out the fish. ) wrote in message . com... Onyx raises the KH a bit with softer waters which is good generally. Better than adding baking soda. But this wears off after a few months. I add ground peat to all substrates. Maybe a good handful per sq ft. I add it the very bottom layer along with dirty mulm from a mature tank to seed the bacteria and also add a bit to the filter to start that. Both substrates are the same in most respects plant wise. Both do well with fine and course root plants. I think some plants look better in each type of color. Onyx is a little easier to clean than Flourite. To rinse: add 1/2 a bag at a time into a 5 gal bucket swirl around and dump off water. Do that 3x for each 1/2 bag. Rinsing more will not matter.\ Add peat/mulm then add 1 inch or so of the gravel, mix well. Then top this layer with 2-3 inches of the gravel. Regards, Tom Barr |
#4
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Onyx Sand
That was interesting :-) Thanks Allen
"Allen Smith" wrote in message om... If you are lucky and don't have fish or plants in the tank yet or waiting to be put into the tank you can do what I did when I had onyx sand. I just dumped each bag into the tank. Then I repeatedly filled the tank with water, swished the sand around with my hand and drained it with the python. I repeated a few times and it was still cloudy, so I left it overnight and the next morning it was fairly clear so I added plants and started the filter up. By the evening it was crystal clear. I agree, however, give it a few rinses only. It seems like you can rinse onyx sand or flourite forever and not get clear water. You want all those small particles that make the water look murky though, it's just a matter of letting them settle to the bottom. It doesn't hurt the fish or plants any if the tank is cloudy from the addition of the substrate, it just bothers the eyes when you are peering into what seems like a pitch black tank. I did that with a second tank, didn't even bother rinsing onyx sand and the fish were perfectly happy even though the water was foggy and you could barely make out the fish. ) wrote in message . com... Onyx raises the KH a bit with softer waters which is good generally. Better than adding baking soda. But this wears off after a few months. I add ground peat to all substrates. Maybe a good handful per sq ft. I add it the very bottom layer along with dirty mulm from a mature tank to seed the bacteria and also add a bit to the filter to start that. Both substrates are the same in most respects plant wise. Both do well with fine and course root plants. I think some plants look better in each type of color. Onyx is a little easier to clean than Flourite. To rinse: add 1/2 a bag at a time into a 5 gal bucket swirl around and dump off water. Do that 3x for each 1/2 bag. Rinsing more will not matter.\ Add peat/mulm then add 1 inch or so of the gravel, mix well. Then top this layer with 2-3 inches of the gravel. Regards, Tom Barr |
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