Fluval Ebi/flora Stratum Or Flourite?

[The_Little_One]

Good morning fellows. I just picked up a 20 gallon long and I'm trying to figure out what substrate would be the best for a planted tank that I hope to leave alone for a while... I've been running my current Fluval Ebi with the stock stratum, but I'm wondering about the benefits of utilizing Flourite for long-term sustainability.

Also, does anyone know if Flourite Dark, Black, etc have different properties or are those merely their brands? I ask because they seem to market them differently.

Thanks!

[Tigs]

flourite dark, black etc are just the colour it comes in. I'm ordering flourite black sand myself, mostly since it's for shrimp and I want a dark substrate to show up the colours on them.. In addition local water is so hard that substrate that would help my shrimp would not last very long, so until I go to RO water I'm sticking with neutral substrate.

cheers,

Antonio

[Cgy_Betta_Guy]

All I use is fluorite black.. both the gravel and the sand. I like the sand since I dont have to vacuum it as much to keep it looking decent and its easier for me to plant stuff in and I do seem to have some success. I think I remember hearing that the fluval substrate eventually breaks down especially if you are constantly going to be disturbing it planting and replanting.

[Okotoks]

I have tanks running both. Flourite is amazing stuff and I find the fluval stuff great, but messy if you have large bottom dwellers that disturb the soil like a big Plecoptera or sun catfish.