Gravel Vs. Sand

[Mako Man111]

Which do you guys prefer?


Don't most if not all fish like sand better? I'm not sure what to do so here are some questions:

1) Do I really have to worry about the anerobic (sp?) gasses getting stirred up?
2) I hear regular play sand you can get at the home depot is fine, is there anything specific I should look for?
3) Is it worse for live plants?
4) Does play sand contain anything beneficial to plants?
5) Doesn't it get and look messy sometimes?

 

[jayjay]

Well someone will come along and moan at me for saying this but no, anerobic conditions will do good not bad.

Play sand would be fine, don't get sharp sand or pH altering sand of any kind.

It's ok for most plant's i've found.

Nope nothing special in it but you can add stuff.

It can but it's also easier to clean.

 

[RRasco]

the fish dont only like it better, it looks 10 million times better too. i am about to plant mine, just going to use co2 injection fertilizers.

 

[D4N]

i perfer sand IMO its beter looking and easyer to clean but people will argue against it

 

[skiltrip]

i've had tons of tank with gravels of all different types. i recently changed to sand and i most likely will never go back.

looks way more natural, the fish love it. it is easier to keep track of how much waste your fish are producing cause you see it, and it's also easier to vacuum it off the top of the sand rather than have it fall between the gravel and just rot.

by being forced to look at your fishes poop all the time, you'll no doubt be coaxed into keeping the tank way cleaner than you ever will with gravel when you can't see the waste.

 

[Mako Man111]

i've had tons of tank with gravels of all different types. i recently changed to sand and i most likely will never go back.

looks way more natural, the fish love it. it is easier to keep track of how much waste your fish are producing cause you see it, and it's also easier to vacuum it off the top of the sand rather than have it fall between the gravel and just rot.

by being forced to look at your fishes poop all the time, you'll no doubt be coaxed into keeping the tank way cleaner than you ever will with gravel when you can't see the waste.

hmm, well do the benefits outway the cons, like if the sand gets stirred up will it mess up my filter? Also, I do see some controversy reguarding the anarobic bacteria and such.

So far it looks like sand is getting more votes than gravel. I think I'm going to start a poll.

 

[Tolak]

I have 3 tanks with gravel, the rest are bare. Gravel is quicker to vac than sand, bare tanks are cleanest & quickest to clean of all. I worry about sand tearing up filter impellers.

 

[voo]

If you put filter wool before the pump in the filter you shouldnt get much sand in the impeller.
I've got 2 tanks with sand, 1 with gravel. The gravel is much quicker to clean and less care needed when cleaning, but sand looks better.

Don't worry about the anerobic gases too much, you can get do things to prevent it. Don't make the sand too deep, few cm and it'll be ok. Also, get hold of some malaysian trumpet snails, they'll stir up the sand