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Cleaning new aquarium substrate pebbles
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2025 2:17 pm
by fancy
I just got my black aquarium pebbles in the mail. I figured they'd be a good choice since I read that's what shrimp are used to in the wild. (I also came across that parrots should eat commercial seed diets - yeah, right, that's a great example of why you can't always trust the internet.)
The package said they're safe for glo fish, but I'm definitely not getting those. So, what's the best way to prep these pebbles for my shrimp tank?
Re: Cleaning new aquarium substrate pebbles
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2025 2:52 pm
by graye
I just rinse it in a bucket till the water's clear, then it's good to go in the tank.
Re: Cleaning new aquarium substrate pebbles
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2025 4:30 pm
by fancy
graye wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 2:52 pm
I just rinse it in a bucket till the water's clear, then it's good to go in the tank.
Thanks for the tip, I was wondering if those glo pebbles might've had some coating on them, glad I don't have to worry about that.
Re: Cleaning new aquarium substrate pebbles
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2025 4:44 pm
by sSjey
I initially thought you were referring to regular black pebbles, which could be used with glo fish if desired, possibly to enhance their colors. However, in your third post, it seems you're saying they're specifically glo pebbles, not just ordinary black ones.
Could you please share a link to the gravel so we can take a look and see exactly what it is?
Re: Cleaning new aquarium substrate pebbles
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2025 5:42 pm
by graye
If they're just regular black gravel, they'd serve as a backdrop for the glow-in-the-dark stuff - I'm thinking they probably don't have a coating, but who knows, it's possible. Plain black gravel would work just fine with a glow tank, kinda like how a velvet Elvis painting looks best on a black background.
Re: Cleaning new aquarium substrate pebbles
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2025 6:12 pm
by fancy
sSjey wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 4:44 pm
I initially thought you were referring to regular black pebbles, which could be used with glo fish if desired, possibly to enhance their colors. However, in your third post, it seems you're saying they're specifically glo pebbles, not just ordinary black ones.
Could you please share a link to the gravel so we can take a look and see exactly what it is?
Here's a picture of the bag. I got it on Amazon - I can send the link if you want to see the product description.
Re: Cleaning new aquarium substrate pebbles
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2025 8:05 pm
by fancy
sSjey wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 4:44 pm
I initially thought you were referring to regular black pebbles, which could be used with glo fish if desired, possibly to enhance their colors. However, in your third post, it seems you're saying they're specifically glo pebbles, not just ordinary black ones.
Could you please share a link to the gravel so we can take a look and see exactly what it is?
graye said:
I just rinse the gravel til the dust is off it, and use it.
That's what I do, and it works fine.
Re: Cleaning new aquarium substrate pebbles
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2025 8:24 pm
by kokomo
Since your bag still seems intact, I'm starting to think those black pebbles might not be the best choice for your shrimp tank. I mean, who needs a glowing floor, right? The shrimp definitely won't appreciate eating any coating that might be on them, and who knows what could leach into the water.
I tried to look up where these pebbles come from, and from what I found, they're probably made in Asia. I'm no expert, but I think pool sand or specialized Shrimp Soil would be a much better option. Your shrimp will thank you for a soft substrate like sand or shrimp soil – it's way easier for them to navigate and find food. Gravel, on the other hand, can be a real challenge for them.
I'm speaking from experience here – I've got natural gravel in my shrimp tank, and let me tell you, it's been a regret, regret, regret situation. Any "natural" color will do just fine, but please, for the sake of your shrimp, consider something better than those Glofish pebbles.
Re: Cleaning new aquarium substrate pebbles
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2025 9:05 pm
by Ceese
kokomo wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 8:24 pm
Since your bag still seems intact, I'm starting to think those black pebbles might not be the best choice for your shrimp tank. I mean, who needs a glowing floor, right? The shrimp definitely won't appreciate eating any coating that might be on them, and who knows what could leach into the water.
I tried to look up where these pebbles come from, and from what I found, they're probably made in Asia. I'm no expert, but I think pool sand or specialized Shrimp Soil would be a much better option. Your shrimp will thank you for a soft substrate like sand or shrimp soil – it's way easier for them to navigate and find food. Gravel, on the other hand, can be a real challenge for them.
I'm speaking from experience here – I've got natural gravel in my shrimp tank, and let me tell you, it's been a regret, regret, regret situation. Any "natural" color will do just fine, but please, for the sake of your shrimp, consider something better than those Glofish pebbles.
I completely agree, Fluval Stratum is a great option and it's on sale right now at petco/petsmart for half price. For gravel, I'd only use a natural type, and I prefer tiny sizes, around .5-2.0mm. Larger gravel tends to hold more detritus that doesn't get filtered out, which can foul the water faster. Shrimp can be really finicky about water parameters, like different biofilms, pH, TDS, nitrates, temperature, and more.
Re: Cleaning new aquarium substrate pebbles
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2025 10:58 pm
by fancy
graye wrote: ↑Tue Mar 11, 2025 2:52 pm
I just rinse it in a bucket till the water's clear, then it's good to go in the tank.
Thanks for the explanation, but I'm still unsure about the velvet Elvis comparison. I think I'll just check if these pebbles glow in the dark to confirm. For $5, I'd rather just buy something else if it's not suitable for my shrimp. By the way, would my 6 Nerite snails be okay with Fluval Stratum, or should I consider something else for them as well?