Better substrate for loaches

[ricoishere]

I'm establishing a new tank, and want topick the best substrate for the tank and loaches. I do planted tanks, and will be using either Seachem Black Sand Or seachem Black (porous clay). I would like to know which one would be best for the polka dot loaches I currently have in another tank. This tank has a combination of Sechem Black Sand and Ecco-Complete. My loaches are in excellent health, I just want another tank.

[Diana]

I do not think that there is a reason to chose one or the other for the Loaches.
If the plants stay well anchored and develop a great root system this would be the deciding factor for me.

[Bully]

From personal experience I would choose Flourite Black Sand and mix it 50/50 with normal aquarium black sand. I had 100% Flourite Black Sand and, neither my Sids or striata would root about in it. Once I mixed it 50/50 with black aquarium sand they resumed normal behaviour. Same goes for standard Flourite, in another tank and the loaches wouldn't root about in it, they would only root in the areas where I had sand.