Gravel for Substrate

[cupofjoel]

I had a question. I know that cichlids prefer sand for substrate, but could one use gravel. Keep in mind the gravel is small and soft, nothing too sharp. I would also have driftwood along with stones. This would be for a mbuna tank. Thoughts?

 

[Colin_T]

You can use sand or smooth gravel for a cichlid tank, it's fine.

 

[cupofjoel]

Can nerite snails be kept with mbuna?

 

[JuiceBox52]

Can nerite snails be kept with mbuna?

I believe so

 

[Retired Viking]

I used fine gravel -3mm for cichlids and they over ran my 55 gallon tank with fry.

 

[cupofjoel]

I used fine gravel -3mm for cichlids and they over ran my 55 gallon tank with fry.

Do they breed like crazy?

 

[Retired Viking]

Mine did, I started out with 8 rescue African Cichlids my daughter brought home on break from college. I made the mistake of trying to make everything perfect for them in the tank including fry grass ,it was my first sunken forest tank and they took it over. I had to move the other fish because they were aggressive and then they kept having fry. I gave away at least 50 young adults. Really nice looking fish and fun to watch at first.

 

[kribensis12]

I have always used pea-sized gravel or smaller. As long as it does not have sharp edges (which most does not), you're fine. Any non-dwarf cichlid (and even then...) should be able to move pea sized gravel if they needed to nest or re-decorate for spring.