Moving From Stones To Sand

[deogan]

I have a 120 ltr tank with cichlids, oscar, texas cichlid and parrot. I have multicolored stones for substrate of about 1 cm diameter. I am able to clean it every week with a gravel vac. Should I move to sand for cosmetic reasons as it looks very good? What are the problems with cleaning it? And how do you clean it?

 

[england]

i find gravel to be better more difficult to spray around ........ but i would go for a natural looking gravel you have to make sure you syphon it<gravel vac>regularly with oscars.....ive never had sand but heard people with cichlids <messy ones>say it diffiucult to maintain and gets clogged in filter more....not saying its not nice<to me its beautiful>but

ps what is the dimentions of your tank l / w / d

 

[deogan]

3/1/1.5. This is precisely the reason I am apprehensive.

 

[roseykat5]

i will be getting something that is between the gravel and sand not sand but not big gravel that s the closest i can get to maintain it and keeping it clean its easier too

 

[chishnfips]

hi just my two bobs worth, I have never found sand hard to maintain, although it is true that it can get inb the filter, but in the two years of changing to sand my internal filter has never been clodgged by it and nvere seems to bother it in the slightest, I actually find it easier to maintain as all the waste sits on top ready to be syphed out by moi. lol.

just mind and stir it about now and then and move heavy objects to clean under them to avoid gasses building up, but even then you aren't going to have the sand deep enough for that to happen to a great extent.

 

[england]

have to tell you that tanks way to small for a oscar alone let alone with a texas

oscar around 14inchs poss more
texas round 10 inches
parrot iam unsure but seen that at around 7inches

so all this waste youll need excellent fiteration you need space for terratory
seriously return the oscar and texas now

 

[rsands]

i find sand easier to look after. if you want you can get pea seize gravel for the job if you dont want sand...i have an external with the inlet pipe about 2cm away from the sand...i was adding fine filter sponges the other day to the filter and i didn't see any sand in the filter, it will only suck it up if the inlet if right above it...like 1cm or less...depending on the suction from the filter obviously

 

[england]

how many fish do you have in this tank because ive seen in other threads you have suckermouths/koi/knifefish so on are they all in this 3ft tank seriously?

 

[deogan]

No. I do not own those fishes now. In fact I turned to cichlids and returned all the other fresh water fishes I had. i agree the tank is small. But the fishes are only about two inches. I am moving to the bigger tank soon. That is why I am seriously thinking about my options between the sand and pebbles. What I gather from the parcipents above, pebbles will of course be a better choice. I have been maintaining it for one year now without a problem.

 

[england]

ok mate ive done the same thing as you i had a 3ft tank with 2oscars 1 severum 1plec 1green terror ....it was fine when they were all under 1inch that didnt last long my oscars got to about 5inchs in 3months.....so i had to upgrade....seriously the oscars grow at an outstanding rate you can literally see them grow and you will prob find it will stunt there growth i made a big mistake...lfs recommendations> anyhow aggrestion will soon appear in such cramped conditions as i found out so i would say to you if your upgrading upgrade now trust me its worth it......second make sure that you are going to do this and not just fooling yourself because its much harder to rehome larger fish...or you may well find death on your hands ....just giving you friendly advice ok because my oscars 1 nearly 1year is about 7inchs and built to match 2nd is 10months 6.5inchs and also built to match

 

[deogan]

Great to have someone who has undergone the same problem as mine. A very valuable piece of advise. My oscar pair will not leave eachother for the whole day. cannot afford to lose one of them. I am planning to buy a tank 4/1.5/1.5. I have two oscars, two firemouths, two parrots, two texas, two suckers. Do you think they will be comfortable in the tank size I am planning? If not I can give one pair off (firemouths may be) to some one. But not more than one pair.

Also I am planning for all white pebbles of 1 cm dia. please advise on these two things.

 

[england]

your dimentions seem to be about 59 us gallons.....this would be a bare minimum for 1 oscar with nothing in the tank and good filteration<noo tankmates>

if i was you id go striaght for a atleast 5ft/2ft/2ft.......=148us gallons........

and pairs of everything is not a good idea.better to go with 1 of each.....plecs are very messy as oscars<heavy filteration

you prob find at the moment you have to much aggro for such a cramped space....bit like you being shut away with 5 people in a lift

 

[the biffster]

i tell what i used was sharp sand its river sand not that yellow stuff sharp sand is natural sand and when its cleaned and washed it looks just like a real river or lake bed and is ideal for plants and wont harm any fish with barbels {whisker }
but you do need to wash it thoroughly but it worth it in the long run as looks great


good luck biff

 

[D4N]

i would never go back to gravel since i have sand. i an oscar and a 13'' common plec and i find it no problem with the waste. it just sits on the top waiting for you to syphon it out.
I only get sand in my filters from my common flicking it everywere

 

[ArauraDiscus]

HMm I'm not a fan of sand. I LOve my gravel vaccum python majigger, and using that in a sand aquarium is virtually impossibly. But then, sand is very beautiful. In deciding, consider the filter options and how you will clean it, as many filters can suck in sand if a fish accidently swishes up a puff of sand and it can ruin the motor.