Gravel And Sand?

[xamy_valox]

Hi there, I'm not sure if I have posted something similar to this in the past but for the life of me I can't figure out how to look at what threads I have posted?
Anyway, I am upgrading to a 125 litre and already have cories, I am wanting to have sand for them to burrow in as currently i have gravel, which they are fine on but would love to seem them digging about in the sand.
However! I am reluctant to have a completely sand tank a) because I think it looks horrible with all the poop and debris sitting on the top of it and b) I have a huge bag of gravel left over!!

Has anyone had experience with using both? I was thinking about maybe having a few patches for them to wriggle around in, but was worried incase it spills into the gravel or just looks messy. Anyone got any pics of their tanks that are half and half or patches as I am planning? Or have any advice at all about keeping sand clean?

Thanks, Amy xx

 

[soybean]

I used to have gravel and sand for the same reason, I just wanted a patch for the corys.

http/i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj256/lclayton/IMAG0253.jpg

It does spread though, it goes underneath the gravel and needed topping up. But as a 'sand pit' it did work quite well. If you don't want it to mix as quickly (because it always does, it finds a way) you'll have to make some kind of barrier, out of pieces of slate for example.

Some people don't like mixing them because they eventually blend together, but I quite liked it, it looked natural.

I've changed to sand now and it is SO much easier to keep clean. Yes you can see the waste but using gravel to hide that isn't really a solution, gravel vacs still need to be done. Also, corys keep everything worked over and flicked up - with enough water circulation it doesn't become that much of a problem.

The difference in their behaviour on all sand rather than gravel is great to watch.

 

[lilfishie]

My 60l Betta tank is half and half, the back half is gravel the front sand, it has mixed a little with the Kuhli loaches in there