Blue Rams And Sand

[ppipanman]

ok heres the deal in my 55 USG i've got 14 tetras 4 GBR and a 3" pleco ive always had med/sm gravel with 10 - 12 plastic plants of different heights a piece of fake wood a fake hollow log and a coral decoration (i know its out of place but the wife thinks its pretty and a pair of rams always laid eggs on it) i'm on my fourth and fifth pairs of rams and they are breeding do i risk switching to sand or keep the gravel? or can i do a combo? and can i get layout ideas please! thanks a bunch pro's and con's if possible would really help

 

[electric yellow]

actually i have gravel in my 3ft with 4 GBRs and i was thinking of swapping the sand when we move in a few months....i didnt realise GBRs need sand. I thought they were like corys and preferred sand but can live with gravel.

 

[Truck]

switch to sand its essential as they are earth eaters, hence mikrogeophagus which is latin for mini earth eater.

 

[Miah002]

For the pleco you should put a real pice of bogwood, driftwood because the linen from the wood helps the to digest there food.

 

[The Village Idiot]

Agreed. I've kept rams on gravel and they have lived, but not nearly as well as they do with sand. If you have the means to make the switch, I would do it.

 

[tuskancharger]

Agreed. I've kept rams on gravel and they have lived, but not nearly as well as they do with sand. If you have the means to make the switch, I would do it.

Why not have both but bare in mind that the sand will get shifted easier by the fish and so you may need to do some regular cosmetics to maintain the look

 

[ppipanman]

what would "the means to do it" mean. how can i set up both? do a 50/50 left to right maybe? or 25%sand/50%gravel/25%sand?
then how thick should the sand/gravel be?

 

[Truck]

go all sand, they dig everywhere! plus the mixture will get mixed up in the end

 

[ppipanman]

how much would i need? where to get it? how thick?

 

[Truck]

tank foot print? desired depth?

 

[ppipanman]

standard 55USG 48 in long 12 in deep 20 in tall

and i don't know how deep should sand be

 

[Truck]

25kg would give you about an inch but you should have more, 35-40kg will give you near enough 2 inches