Gravel

[JMcQueen]

Im looking for the 'ideal' gravel for my next tank and was wondering if anyone could recommend any?

Its going to be used in a Goldfish tank and so needs to be the right size to allow them to rummage through the bottom without damaging themselves and so rounded. Now, looking around online some people recommend a small size particle for this but then others say a larger particle would be better as the smaller particles runs the risk of choking the fish but that larger particles mean more debris falls between the edges.

It seems there are pro's and con's for each size so what do I use? A medium size particle?

The other problem is that nobody actually specifies what the physical size of small, medium and large gravel actually is which makes it all the more difficult.

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, the perfect gravel is perfect right up until you spot some debris you don't like, lol! There's no winning. I'm not a goldfish expert (although have kept my share,) and I do know they like to pick and spit, so I'll be interested if any of our experts come along with some advice!

I don't remember particularly noticing my goldfish getting damaged by picking in the sort of largish normal gravel one picks up in bags at the shop, but I also may have overlooked that.

I'll repeat my cory story (for longer term members who heard me say this any number of times) that you can wander down a creek valley out in the woods and usually come to a bend in the creek somewhere that's basically not been disturbed by human activity and there find plenty of rather nice gravel that's been all smoothed down, every tiny particle, so that it doesn't scratch at all. Often its in a full mix of sizes, which can be a very nice effect. The smaller stuff may indeed be all wrong for goldies, I don't know.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[JoshuaA]

If you're suggesting removing the gravel WD I'm pretty sure that's illegal in the UK. However it doesn't beat the fact I saw a family taking the breakwaters next to a local beach apart. They had large wire frames full of medium to small rocks, they had cut open the frame with wirecutters and then the whole family was doing a line of passing rocks up the cliff side into the back of his van. The shocking thing is that those breakwaters had to be put there a few years back as it started flooding a street and damaging some houses.

 

[JMcQueen]

er...well,yes, I would like to stay inside the law with this one. Perhaps the type of stuff you can buy from the LFS

 

[OldMan47]

As JoshuaA said, removing materials from land you do not own would be illegal in most places. Mining the gravel from a creek may seem harmless, but if everyone did it there would soon be no gravel left to mine. If I catch you out on my farm removing gravel from one of my creeks, I will certainly put the law on you. I would probably help a person remove some gravel from one of my creeks if they asked for permission, but that is not the same thing at all. There is no such thing, in this modern age, as a creek that nobody owns. The fact that you don't know who owns it does not make it fair game for theft of the gravel.

 

[JMcQueen]

lol, I do intend to buy it from a shop, just not sure on what size would be best.

Some people say large grain sizes to stop the fish mouthing and choking on them but the downside is that this can lead to more debris build up through the gaps between grains

conversely, some people said small grains as its easier on the fish when digging through it, reduces debris build up but run the risk of the fish trying to eat it.

 

[JoshuaA]

lol, I do intend to buy it from a shop, just not sure on what size would be best.

Some people say large grain sizes to stop the fish mouthing and choking on them but the downside is that this can lead to more debris build up through the gaps between grains

conversely, some people said small grains as its easier on the fish when digging through it, reduces debris build up but run the risk of the fish trying to eat it.

I think smaller rounder pebbles look better, large ones appear odd to me with their much larger gaps. If you're keeping corys then the option should be very small smooth or at least very smooth.

You can actually mix them up but the basic principle that the smaller parts will sink to the bottom, though I find with a gravel vacuum you can stir up the gravel if you dig it in and the lighter gravel gets picked up more and then drops down on top of the bigger stuff. My girlfriends tank is small pebbles around all the plants and then around one of the only ornaments a (jar) it is larger pebbles.

OldMan47 do you posses a gun? Or are you going to chase me! I think I've got a good chance if its the latter.

 

[JMcQueen]

Im going to use Pettex Dorset Pea Gravel because I like the finish and with it being more rounded than other types of gravel. The question is still that of size, it comes in 3mm, 5mm and 7mm sizes. What would be the ideal size to avoid choking but still allow rumaging.

 

[waterdrop]

Had to chuckle over this one. Glad I live where there are still vast acres of forest where a scoop of gravel will not be missed, but my favorite vacations are in the crowded cities of europe and I know its a different story over there. Likewise I agree its appropriate to ask an owner if at all possible. My own actual reality is much more boring as everything has come from the shops in my recent return to the hobby.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[JMcQueen]

Any views on to the size issue WD? I was talking to the guy at the LFS today and he actually recommended micro gravel but they only had black which, with black fish, would be too dark for me.

 

[Yanks15]

I keep fancy goldies and I use a fairly large natural river gravel. The fish have never had a problem with choking and they are able to pick up gravel approx. the size of a large pea. I don't think a fine gravel is what you want. Hope this helps.

The fish are 3"to4" in size.

 

[JMcQueen]

Thanks smoke, thats a big help. What would estimate your gravel size to typically be in terms of mm? The three that Im looking at are 3mm, 5mm and 7mm grain size.

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

I use the normal sized gravel for goldfish; not too small so they swallow it. maybe 1cm sized bits; I've recently transferred to Aqua one gravel (I think Marina do similar gravel); it's semi-shiny gravel (it's easier to clean than the other stuff ).

 

[waterdrop]

I agee, most of the recommendations I've seen for goldfish are for larger gravel, but it doesn't have to be huge. WD