New 75 Gal overflow design

[NDininno]

OK, so a coworker of mine is giving me a 75 gallon tank which he is currently using for a salt water setup. It is coming with an overflow and sump, protien skimmer and some other stuff I can't remember. Right now I have 3 clown loaches, 4 black kuhli's, 1 clown pleco, and 1 mickey mose platy that I took as a rescue. I'm going to take down my current tank and replace it with the bigger 75 gallon. Currently I have a sandy bottom which my loaches seem to like, and it certainly has kept my tank cleaner as far as poop goes. My plans are to have a fully planted tank and expand on my clown population. I have not found a plant that will grow in sand. I'm sure this is probably common knowledge but I learned the hard way. I bought some seachem flourite to test before I found out i was getting the 75 gallon. My question is, do you learned loach experts think it's wise to use flourite for loaches?

[OneWay]

The normal flourite can be more coarse then most would prefer, but I have used it mixed with sand and it worked great. This mixture is in my sump now and baby dwarf tears are growing in it quite well.

You can use the Black Sand Flourite to mix with your old sand to make it even better for your loaches. It costs a little bit more and will change the color of your sand, but it should work great.


Good luck

[NDininno]

Is there any reason I couldnt mix the regular flourite, black sand flourite, and the sand I currently have?

[Diana]

Materials of different densities will separate. Fine, heavy stuff sinks. Coarser or lighter material will drift to the top of the substrate.

I would put the Florite you have in spots where the most greedy plants will be (Echinodorus, for example are very heavy root feeders) and put the pool filter sand out front for the Loaches to play in.

Use driftwood or rocks to separate the materials. They will not stay separated, but it is a good start.

Most plants are not quite so particular about substrate, but make sure you have enough light, fertilizer and carbon to keep them happy.

Light: At least 2 watts per gallon with a K rating between 6,500 - 10,000K
Fertilizer: Fish may provide enough N and P, but K is often lacking. Florite may hold enough micro nutrients to get the plants started, but you may end up needing do dose iron. Fertilizer tablets pressed deep into the soil is a very good way to help out the heavy feeders. Make sure the Loaches do not dig up the tablets.
Carbon might be from Excel, or you might want to look into pressurized systems. DIY/ yeast is not very stable in this large a tank.

[palaeodave]

Nothing but sand and a wee bit of gravel in here:



Crypts will grow in anything. I have one that came loose then rooted in a clump of java moss!