Considering A Move From Gravel To Sand

[LondonguyJ]

Yesterday at roughly 2pm I figured I clean the gravel in my new planted aquarium. Up to that point (and since I don't have any livestock at the moment) I had merely been keeping notes on the effects on my T5 lights and the differing amounts of algae they produce with each light cycle.

*Note* From my observation led moonlights do not encourage algae growth.

However, when I started to clean the gravel I realized that all of the plant substrate was being pulled from underneath and now sits on top and looks quite unsightly. I mean, prior to buying the substrate I did a fair amount of research on different types and ultimately went for one of the more expensive substrates I first heard about on an U.S forum. Which you would think is money well spent considering how well my plants have grown in just a month, the length of their roots, and the fact that this substrate is said to last a year.

But now it seems I'm left with two options. The first being to take out the mixed substrate/gravel and replace re-do the gravel and add a nutrient supplement for my plants. Or forget gravel all together and go with sand.

And was wondering which method you guys would recommend?

By the way I got the idea of sand as an alternative while looking up Cherry Barbs on youtube: http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=Era66n7Zz4o


Moonlight pic isn't exactly clear and the gravel looks a mess because I was trying to salvage the mess I made earlier

 

[AinsyC]

i have made the move from gravel to sand, andi find that it not only looks better, but my fish prefer it, although i didnt have many plants when i did it. i first gave the gravel a good vacuum and then used a fish net to take out all the gravel, which took a while, then replaced it with sand, and replanted, it took a couple of hours, but i think that was becaause i was being fussy...silly me
good luck!

edit: somehow double posted ...