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What substrate would you sugest using for Parosphromenus species ?
Sand ? fine gravel ? course gravel ?.
I realise using something free of ¨hardeners¨ (not sure how to say that in English) would be
paramount. But of course we can test that easily with a strong acid.My immediate answer would be leaves, especially from the beech. Oak is good too, but do not pick the thick leaves, they tend to go mouldy, probably becouse of some sap residues.
Sorry I was probably a little to brief with my answer. You may use just leaves just a loose layer of couple centimeters or if you want to put something under it, use granulated peat or fine sand. Gravel is not good in my opinion as Paros tend to dive in to the subrate when escaping and could hurt themselves. Pure leaves are great in my experience if you need to catch the fish to move them to some new tank, you just put the leaves out and catch the fish. Mainly with the small ones it is much easier than with some powdery substrate.
The Substrate is of minor importance in a Paro-tank. It’s not a tank for gardening. There are successful breeders using no subtrate whatsoever, others (as myself f.i.) use calcium-free gravels or peat. Deepin’ peats suggestion to use dry beech or oak leaves is very good since it come near to the natural situation in the rainforest peat swamps of south-east Asia.
A congratulation for deepin’ peats replies to many questions in these forums; they are strictly to the point and exhibit knowledge and expertise.
[quote=”Peter Finke” post=4143].
A congratulation for deepin’ peats replies to many questions in these forums; they are strictly to the point and exhibit knowledge and expertise.[/quote]Thank you very much Peter, I am glad that I had the chance to learn so much of Paros related stuff from you and from others and all the information sources here. I hope to give back to Paros and the P-P in the future.
Your answers and particulairly the explanations with them are very helpful. It is much apreciated.
I asume it would be helpful if one uses only leaves to place the tank either on a dark surface or paint the outside of the botton pane of glass in a dark brown or black ?
Of course no substrate makes cleaning out yout tank if ever it may be needed just that bit easier.
You may use something dark, but just for the ilustration I enclose a picture of how it looks using only leaves. When they are soaked well, they get softer over couple days and cover the bottom just fine.
I have always sand or some other rather fine ground material in my tanks, but not much – about 1/2 or 1 cm deep. I had never plants for decoration, but when they grow they can’t be so bad for the tanks biology …
The ground material also works as a filter – and does a bit of a self cleaning work, so that the ground don’t has to be cleaned all the time …
I test it before I use it – I fill a little amount in a glass with osmosis water and measure after some days if there is any Calcium. If not – good for the tank.I have now four Paro tanks (36, 54 and 65 l) and the inhabitant rate is increasing 😛 so they like some plant structures I guess , even if it are just the roots of swimming Ceratopteris. My Valniseria also has adapted very well in the low pH tanks.
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