Substrate for 220 gallon?

[gm72]

So the question is simple--what substrate should I choose for the upcoming 220 gallon tank? Inhabitants are somewhat undecided, but there will be at least an oscar, 2 common plecos, and 2 gold tinfoil barbs. Thanks for your opinion!

[shockshockshad]

I say any type of pea gravel beacuse the oscar and the pleco will dig up the substrate and make a mess of sand.

[Algenco]

oscars will move any substrate if the mood strikes.

[Algenco]

How about 3M colorquartz? It comes in several sizes and lots of colors. Runs around $20/50#
(Tahitian Moon Sand is S grade colorquartz)

[sanddigger]

I would chose natural color mix of pea size gravel and sprinkle some aragonite to give it a sand effect. Your Oscar can dig as he pleases, and the mix of the two look great even after WC.

What kind of oscar? Red are my favorite. I had two (Oscar and Felix) 15 years ago, they are beautiful,... red bodies with black fins.

[gm72]

I love Tahitian Moon Sand, have it in my 38 gallon coldwater tank.

Keep the votes coming!

[Lady Hobbs]

The fish will tell it all. Oscars will throw the sand around (and the gravel) but the pleco would like the sand on his belly. I guess I would have to say a fine round stone.

Because stone was not listed, I voted Other.

[NickFish]

I think the oscar would rearrange the sand to much.

[OscarFan]

I think he might accidently eat some sand too. I would go with some sort of round rocks. I like the big round rocks In Oscar tanks.

[Lady Hobbs]

I think the oscar would rearrange the sand to much.

My firemouths are throwing sand all over the place. I can't imagine a 12 inch Oscar. It would look like a bulldozer was in the tank. :)

[cocoa_pleco]

as long as your fish arend diggy go for sand. i went with gravel in my 90g because i thought the oscar and other fish would dig, but none do

[tropfish]

haha, my cichlids like to get mouthfuls of sand and then go to the top of the tank and spit it out again.

[Incredulous_Ed]

Go wth sand. It would take forever to vacuum the gravel, but with sand you just need to skim the surface.