Gravel Or Sand?

[chickennuggets123]

I currently have gravel, but I heard sand is a lot more better.
My gravel is pink/white, and I like it- it looks really nice. And it goes with the rest of my tank.
But though I have a gravel cleaner, dirt is building up too much,
and I cant catch the new born fry as they keep tucking in the gaps. (ive caught 18 without any problem- but the ones i didnt see, have started hiding in the gravel.)
Thanks! Please add opinions too


Oh... can i have gravel AND sand?

 

[ripil]

really don't think sand and gravel together looks too good. i tried adding bigger gravel to the old shingle i had. it lasted less than half an hour. two different sizes of any shingle looks odd. i've got sand in the tank and after having gravel it sets it off so much better. its really light coral sand and although that raises the alkaline level the guppies and swordtails don't mind it at all. (did get advice on the alkaline level first) as sand is smaller they seem to clean it a bit better too. to stop the dirt building up in the gravel maybe try an under gravel filter? seems to be doing its job in the smaller of my two tanks. dirt does seem to rest on the sand so still looks dirty after about 4 or 5 days.

 

[raptorrex]

I currently have gravel, but I heard sand is a lot more better.
My gravel is pink/white, and I like it- it looks really nice. And it goes with the rest of my tank.
But though I have a gravel cleaner, dirt is building up too much,
and I cant catch the new born fry as they keep tucking in the gaps. (ive caught 18 without any problem- but the ones i didnt see, have started hiding in the gravel.)
Thanks! Please add opinions too


Oh... can i have gravel AND sand?

gravel and sand turns into a mixed mess. there is no, practical, way of keeping the two separate.

personally, i found cleaning sand, more of a problem than gravel.
my suggestion for the "building up of much" is higher flow, as well as a gravel cleaner.
the water is not moving, fast, enough to scavenge the waste.

which one? well that seems to be done, for the most part, on aesthetic grounds.

 

[Tizer]

I've not vac'd / cleaned my sand substrate since i set my tank up 3 months ago. I've got loads of movement in there though with spray bars and power heads. If you have pink and white gravel that goes with the rest of your tank, i hope you've offered the fish some sun glasses!

 

[HayzH]

I've not vac'd / cleaned my sand substrate since i set my tank up 3 months ago. I've got loads of movement in there though with spray bars and power heads. If you have pink and white gravel that goes with the rest of your tank, i hope you've offered the fish some sun glasses!

off he goes again!

 

[Tizer]

I've not vac'd / cleaned my sand substrate since i set my tank up 3 months ago. I've got loads of movement in there though with spray bars and power heads. If you have pink and white gravel that goes with the rest of your tank, i hope you've offered the fish some sun glasses!

off he goes again!

you will learn young padawan, the force is strong with the natural effect.