Hows This Sound

[Mybbygotsauz]

Ok, im wondering on how this would go
i plan on switching from gravel to sand very soon
instead of taking the gravel out, how would simply putting the sand on top of the gravel work out?
Of course i would take out all the ornaments and evenly spread the sand around. But leaving the gravel in would work wouldnt it?
I think that by leaving the gravel in it could add some extra support for plants
so i would like to know what you think and if this could work and look descent
thanks

 

[StandbySetting]

No, the sand will eventually fall through the gravel leaving with a mixture mainly with gravel at the top.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

No, the sand will eventually fall through the gravel leaving with a mixture mainly with gravel at the top.

+1

 

[Mybbygotsauz]

Understood

 

[Mybbygotsauz]

But wait,
then all you would have to do is add more sand right
it cant all keep falling through the gravel
eventually it will rise above the gravel and stay there right?

 

[MBOU]

Believe me all you end up is a horrible mess that you cant undo unless, after ending up putting 4 x sand to 1 x gravel, you get really hacked off that the gravel will always come to the top....

Then you have to take the whole lot out and replace it, or sit picking gravel out the sand

 

[england]

By the time you do all that you wont have no room for fish,

 

[Mybbygotsauz]

lol thanks haha
just wanted my idea to be good
but okay, lol
ill do it yals way haha

 

[skinbad]

lol thanks haha
just wanted my idea to be good
but okay, lol
ill do it yals way haha

There are some good posts on this forum about this discussio, with some great advice on how to actually go about it, worth searching a few pages for.

I changed recently, and i wasn't impressed at first, but sand has grown on me. It always looks better in other people tank pics, its better for plants, and some fish need it, but it shows up everything! There's a "knack" to be learnt for cleaning it too. Without digging fish, it should be ok mixed if its capped over top with sand, but defo remove most of your gravel, I left in about 1cm of gravel, covered with sand, then mixed it up, then covered that with sand. I found it gives a better surface for rooted plants to grasp. But i had two plecs in my tank, and they used to dig sand by the mounds!

 

[Mowbz]

If you really wanted to do this, you could try and find some sort of water permeable membrane to place over the gravel before putting the sand on top. Something like the weedproof membranes you would put under new turf would be ideal in thoery, but like i said, you'll need to research the materials used in construction, possible effects on the tank, etc.

Could end up being a no go anyway.

Ben