Gravel Or Sand

[sdchilderley]

Hello,

I know looks is everything but what do the animals prefer most? Shrimp sometimes find it difficult to crawl across gravel depending on the thickness and easier to walk on sand? What do you prefer to use and why?

- Shaun

 

[TropicalLad21]

Im using gravel at the moment which seems fine but im gonna be switching over to sand very soon as i think it looks alot better from the posts i've seen on here, much better.

 

[sdchilderley]

Im using gravel at the moment which seems fine but im gonna be switching over to sand very soon as i think it looks alot better from the posts i've seen on here, much better.

Yh ive recently setup a new tank with sand, it looks 10x more better than gravel and is easier to plant plants in without a problem!

 

[Mr Spoon]

I prefere sand cause the poop sits on top of it and you can suck it up with a hose. I think fish prefer sand but when you got big fish its not always practical as they stir it up and the sand can mess your filters up. I had to change back to gravel in one tank as I added a 15" Pleco and the tank looked like a sand storm.

 

[sdchilderley]

I prefere sand cause the poop sits on top of it and you can suck it up with a hose. I think fish prefer sand but when you got big fish its not always practical as they stir it up and the sand can mess your filters up. I had to change back to gravel in one tank as I added a 15" Pleco and the tank looked like a sand storm.

LOL, I would have loved to have seen the pleco in a sand storm! But yh fair point what about anyone else?

 

[Louiseness]

I have sand, and the only real problem is trying to tip water in from buckets when doing water changes, bit of a sandstorm there But otherwise my plants have done better and obviously my cories are happier with sand.

The blue lobster has shrimp substrate, now THAT is a pain in the behind- probably gonna change to sand when we're brave enough to try and fish the little git out.

 

[sdchilderley]

I have sand, and the only real problem is trying to tip water in from buckets when doing water changes, bit of a sandstorm there But otherwise my plants have done better and obviously my cories are happier with sand.

The blue lobster has shrimp substrate, now THAT is a pain in the behind- probably gonna change to sand when we're brave enough to try and fish the little git out.

I've already experienced the sand storm with water changes, its a pain in the #17##### as all the plants get covered in sand specially the ones with big leaves but anyhow sand seems allot more friendlier for the fish and shrimp.

 

[ace61502]

I definitely prefer sand. One way to avoid the sandstorm with water changes is to use a pitcher and dip the water in rather than pour it in. Right now I have a tank with silica sand and one with black beauty. I LOVE the black beauty and have a sneaking suspicion the silica tank will be changed over in the near future. (tip: Find an equipment store to buy your sand. Equipment as in backhoes, ditch diggers, etc. Got 100# of silica sandblasting sand for $9 and 100# of black beauty for $11. If you can't find one, call a local sandblaster and ask where they get their sand, that's what I did)