Mixed Gravel And Sand

[Majjie]

Have any of you tried mixing black gravel with yellowy sand? I don't mean mixing it up all together but having different areas of the tank in one or the other.

I'm combining the contents of three tanks into one and don't really want to go out and get all new substrate. I could perhaps get a small bag of browny/grey gravel to form a border between the two.

What do you think ... could I make it look tasteful ... or is it bound to look naff?

 

[Ian H]

it will eventually mix together and look naff

 

[rdd1952]

It's very difficult to do because the finer grains of sand filter into the gravel. Putting sand on top of gravel definitely doesn't work as in about 3 to 6 months, the sand goes to the bottom or at least down into the gravel leaving gravel on top. Mixing side by side is possible but you will still have some migration of the sand so you could get low spots along the break area unless you can find something to use as a divider.

 

[Majjie]

Hmm ... yes that makes sense.

What about using bogwood (I have some small pieces) and stones and pebbles to divide the areas? I have lots of pebbles sitting on the sand in one tank now.

 

[rdd1952]

The bogwood might work but I doubt the stones or pebbles will as the sand will still be able to filter around or through them.

 

[AJGray]

well so far in the 2 lil months we had ours it hasnt mixed

i got kids play sand from argos with lakeland gravel and if i dont say so myself it looks fab, it hasnt mixed so far but at the fringe of the gravel it has but thats the look we were going for.

 

[Mo_loves_fish]

it should work is the sand is thick enough. fine sand it bad. and doesnt work very well, but you'll probally have to end up adding a bit more sand because the sand with sink and shift a bit as it settles but after a while you should be alright.

 

[rdd1952]

well so far in the 2 lil months we had ours it hasnt mixed

i got kids play sand from argos with lakeland gravel and if i dont say so myself it looks fab, it hasnt mixed so far but at the fringe of the gravel it has but thats the look we were going for.

Did you do them side by side? As I said, that way will probably work although you will get some mixing and it will continue over time to mix a little more. If sand is on top of gravel, you can definitely bet they are mixing but it may not be noticable yet.

If you want to see the effect, try putting an inch of gravel in the bottom of a bucket and a half inch of sand on top. Then lightly tap the side of the bucket for 5 minutes. The gravel will most likely be to the top in just that short a time.

 

[AJGray]

sort of but no lol

what we did was build a layer of sand up first then added the gravel on top after a day after the sand had settled down a bit then at the last bits of gravel i pushed into the sand so you could just see it. Its kinda effective really! when itlooks like its mixing we just use our bit gravel cleaner to suck it up and move it back to the sand part

 

[rdd1952]

If you put gravel on top then it won't likely mix as the large material will always come to the top. The mixing occurs when the small stuff starts on top and begins to go down.

 

[AJGray]

yup thats why i did it and not blaine lol hehe works really well if you get it right theres a pic of it somewhere on the site

 

[Majjie]

Ok ... thanks everyone ... I think I'll give it a go

 

[Catfish Jack]

im turning my empty 10g tank into a puffer tank, and im going try this and gravel mix.

im thinking about some light colored sand, with some bronze, round(about 1" diameter) stones. i will pile them together in a few spots, like aorund plants and in corners. hopefully this will create a natural look.