Gravel Or Sand?

[geordieelvis]

Hi all, I am in the process of purchasing a 315 litre tank from a friend who had it as a marine set up , I am going to use it as a tropical tank. I was wondering what you would recommend for a substrate? I am planning on having a RTBS or a Ruby Shark and probably a Common Plec on the surface so am I better with gravel or sand?

Cheers !

 

[BerryAttack]

depends on if you want to have it live plant or fake plant. also depends on the look. if you want a beach look then use sand to give it the more tropical look. i find sand is easier to clean then gravel.. everything stay on top, just need to ruffle the sand when cleaning to remove any stored gas during the water change.

 

[geordieelvis]

Do you think realistically I could have half and half?? To create a beach effect leading into a rocky area? I suppose I would need some sort of decent divider but it could look pretty effective

 

[Ninjouzata]

I don't think either of those are very picky about the substrate.
You can do both but it can prove a little difficult to keep them separate.
 
I strongly urge you to not go for a common pleco as the tank (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) will be too small.

 

[fluttermoth]

I don't think either of those are very picky about the substrate.
You can do both but it can prove a little difficult to keep them separate.
 
I strongly urge you to not go for a common pleco as the tank (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) will be too small.

No, you're right; even a tank that big isn't big enough for a common (or a gibbi/sailfin).

 

[Tim95]

Sand tends to look more natural then gravel does,and yes you could try the effect, without the divider, I did it with my tank ending with a large rock overhanging (Made a nice cave for my ropefish) If you do it right, it can look really good, I used play sand, river rocks for a hobby store, and some larger rocks to help hold up the outcropping. If you want any bottom feeders, go with sand, it tends to treat them better (Gravel is sometimes to tough, and can scratch) live plants like sand better, but a layer of gravel underneath, though a little more work, will help the plants to root themselves in. As the people before have said, a common Pleco will get to large for your tank, they can get up to 1 foot long. Bristle nose plecs don't grow nearly as large, 5-6 inchs. 
 
Side note: I made a strainer out of a coat hanger by benging it into a large oval, so when I run it through the sand, the gravel or river rocks stay with it. Make sure the gaps are small enough that the gravel doesn't go through.

 

[fishwarrior]

I've had both and I like gravel better, I went from full on sand to gravel.  When you only do a lighter layer of gravel, it's actually much easier to clean than sand and more thorough too.  What I mean by that is with gravel, all I need to is stick the tube and rake the bottom, only takes a short time and I'm done, it's actually very relaxing too.  I also use a strong mag drive pump to move it to the sink drain.  With sand, debris still gets mixed into the sand, so you never really get it all.  I think the key is to have a thin layer of gravel so whatever the amount to be used, cut it in half or minus a third.   With a deeper gravel bed, you need to stick the tube in more and there will be more resistance.  Vacuuming is so easy and fast now and I get everything.

 

[-Craig-]

I prefer sand by a mile. I had mine from a local quarry, there was a big river flowing through it and I believe when the quarry was being used a lot of sand was dislodged and washed down stream and thus stayed there. (Quarry was abandoned over 100 years ago) it isn't industrial sand, and I put it in a large bucket with water for a few weeks to make sure it was safe, then took ph readings, no salt. I've used it for two years in my main tank. 
 
Anyway story over I would go with Sand.

 

[Midas]

I did a poll on this last month...  not sure how to reference a previous string. 

Sand, Gravel Or Bare Bottom?
Started by Midas, Oct 11 2013 04:22 PM
 

 

[AirFarceLive]

How dramatic

 

[Seal36]

I started with big chunky gravel which did not look natural, I have then moved down to small black and white gravel which I like and is easy to clean to but I am changing my tanks over to sand today as I want some corydoras and I think the sand looks more natural. I have only ever had to clean gravel which is very easy as already stated and as of yet I have had no experience with cleaning sand but everyone tells me the stuff sits on top rather than going into the gravel so it's supposedly easier to clean from Tom

 

[fishwarrior]

everyone tells me the stuff sits on top rather than going into the gravel so it's supposedly easier to clean

 
That's what they tell you lol It depends on your fish stocking and how messy the fish are.  Typically many sand only tanks have small fish so you don't notice much.  I like to overstock my tanks which means more visible waste and depending on the grain of the sand it can get logged and mixed in with the sand.   I also find it tedious having to put the end of the hose to a certain point above the sand and hold it there, you can't just rake it across like with gravel so it takes longer to vacuum and on larger tanks that can be a PITA.
 
Sand can become as much a nitrate factory as gravel, you just need to keep up on vacuums and do more when necessary.  Both sand and gravel are good, I usually have a love hate thing going and will switch back and forth.

 

[chrisjj]

i use sand ,but your the one that has to live with it ,so i suggest ,look up pics of both tanks with sand and tanks with gravel and choose the one that suits you.
you can change if you dont like one ,but man thats a lot of work.