which is better?

[TaTeR ToT]

which is better?

black flourite substrate
or
onyx substrate?

i am looking to use the better of these in my 10g planted and my 5.5g planted.

i want to put ember tetras in my 5.5g, and green fire tetras in my 10g.

i want a substrate that will compliment their colors well.
also, i want something that will best support my plants, ie; java fern, crypts, dwarf vals if i can find some, and hygro.

i also have RCS in my 10g, and i am looking to get some tiger shrimp for my 5.5g.

i am putting manzanita wood in my 5.5g
and i have all maylaysian wood in my 10g.

i also have various mosses, ie; flame, xmas, and java mosses.

any advice is greatly appriciated.

[manifresh006]

i would go with black b/c of the look...lol but both have good nutrients

Onyx

Black

[wesleydnunder]

I have onyx in my 30L shrimp tank and the plants love it. I have the same plants you mentioned and they all thrive, though the java fern isn't planted in the substrate.

Mark

[CichlidFan]

Once you go slag, the rest is a drag.....go with black beauty....)

Seriously, I have a bag of black beauty that will get tossed soon....

It's your's should you care to have it....

CF

[tnguyen]

I would go with ADA substrate(Amazonia).

[eklikewhoa]

I have the seachem mix in my tank and can almost say its no comparison to ADA Amazonia.

[Darbex]

ADA is like crack to the plants they grow crazy in it.

[Mzungu]

I've never tried Onyx, actually. I have Flourite Black in a tank, and I've got nothing really to say about it. It looks nice, but I haven't noticed anything special to remark. Sorry, but AquaSoil has been the substrate that has really shown me what substrates can do.

I've always been a fan of Flourite, but the Flourite Black doesn't seem to do as well, for some reason. I actually like Eco-Complete, as well. Have you considered that one?

[TaTeR ToT]

thanx for all the replies everyone:)

mzungu, i have actually used eco-complete before, in my old 10g planted, it yielded awesome results.
but i really like the onyx sub.
and i have always wanted to try ada as amazonia, but i just never could find it ~ where im at.
i guess i will swing by dans and grab a bag.:)

[spyke1969]

you will be pleased

[Navarro]

Try ADA Amazonia especially for the ember tetras the "other substrates" are good and reliable but never the same they may last longer indeed but the results you get with ADA Amazonia they cannot be compared to anything out there yet.
Now that being said I have use them all and give them time to mature even when I have encounter problem during the first 6 months Seachem makes very good products their substrates are rich in Iron and had a very porous surface that allows bacteria to colonize it and this help to "release" the iron from it.
I have used the regular Flourite since the product came out and had perfect results I can grow any plants with it a few obstacles with rare rainforest plants that struggle but eventually could grow when the substrate was more mature.
Onyx sand will increase your KH and I don't think is something you need here in Houston where our water is naturally hard and alkaline; even when plants can adapt to grow in such conditions you will be limited of the species you can grow, on the other hand true aquatic plants can benefit from it by absorbing the carbon they need from the substrate.
Black Flourite Fe is lower compared with the others dark, regular, onyx and red Flourite so I had many problem growing plants yet Cryptocorines seem to respond very well to it.
Eco complete is just a good one clean easy on the plants it has being inoculated with spores of nitro bacteria for a faster cycling some said it works some other said is just water in it now if is true that the bacteria was inoculated in a spore form the chances of survival are higher regardless of temperature.
and my last comment is the same as the first get ADA Amazonia you will be happy keeping characoids, corydoras, dwarf SA cichlids any plants you want etc, etc. it can be done because it was simply designed to fulfill their needs.
Cheers,
Navarro

[tnguyen]

Try ADA Amazonia especially for the ember tetras the "other substrates" are good and reliable but never the same they may last longer indeed but the results you get with ADA Amazonia they cannot be compared to anything out there yet.
Now that being said I have use them all and give them time to mature even when I have encounter problem during the first 6 months Seachem makes very good products their substrates are rich in Iron and had a very porous surface that allows bacteria to colonize it and this help to "release" the iron from it.
I have used the regular Flourite since the product came out and had perfect results I can grow any plants with it a few obstacles with rare rainforest plants that struggle but eventually could grow when the substrate was more mature.
Onyx sand will increase your KH and I don't think is something you need here in Houston where our water is naturally hard and alkaline; even when plants can adapt to grow in such conditions you will be limited of the species you can grow, on the other hand true aquatic plants can benefit from it by absorbing the carbon they need from the substrate.
Black Flourite Fe is lower compared with the others dark, regular, onyx and red Flourite so I had many problem growing plants yet Cryptocorines seem to respond very well to it.
Eco complete is just a good one clean easy on the plants it has being inoculated with spores of nitro bacteria for a faster cycling some said it works some other said is just water in it now if is true that the bacteria was inoculated in a spore form the chances of survival are higher regardless of temperature.
and my last comment is the same as the first get ADA Amazonia you will be happy keeping characoids, corydoras, dwarf SA cichlids any plants you want etc, etc. it can be done because it was simply designed to fulfill their needs.
Cheers,
Navarro

+1, what he say.