Just wondering what would be a good substrate of a YBS tank.

I wouldn't like to use gravel because it traps dirt and I'm not to keen to a bare bottom tank as it doesn't look very natural but will keep it bare if needed.

so...any ideas?

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Bare is best

More importantly gravel can be swallowed and cause impaction, if you have to have a substrate it needs to be big enough that the turts can't swallow it, and the gaps in between big enough not to trap dirt.

I like to use a single layer of 45mm graded slate chippings, or similar size smooth river rocks. Both look good, can't be swallowed, and don't trap too much dirt.

My adult turts are strong enough to move them about and turn them over when they search for food, which releases any trapped particles which then get sucked into the filter so I rarely have to do any spot cleaning at all!

Of course this only works if you have a good powerful external filter, creating a flow powerful enough to deal with the often large and heavy solids.

Very young turts aren't big and strong enough to move the rocks, so you either have to use something smaller, but still big enough that it can't be swallowed, or don't have any substrate until they are a bit bigger, which won't be very long!

Thats Great, Thanks.

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