Newbie Into Freshwater

[TropicalLad21]

Nice big tank... i'd keep alot more then just 2 species though but each to there own

 

[Rillo Boy]

Nice big tank... i'd keep alot more then just 2 species though but each to there own

Maybe later on I might change my mind....but guppies and neons are soooo pretty

 

[TropicalLad21]

Agreed - love guppies.

 

[Rillo Boy]

I don't like the look of your substrate for cories; they really ought to have sand to be able to express their natural behaviours
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Been thinking bout this, since the tank is deep, getting the existing gravel out would not be too easy, tho it can be done......is it possible to just leave all the gravel in....with the plants etc and just top it off with say something like Argos playsand properly washed ? The existing gravel 5/7 mm is about 2" deep presently.Your thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[fluttermoth]

I'm afraid putting sand on top of gravel doesn't work; the sand sinks through the cracks and ends up undeneath the gravel. You could syphon the gravel out with a large bore pipe, like a piece of hose, perhaps?

A mix of gravel and sand can look nice and natural (I have that in many of my tanks), as long as it's mostly sand.

 

[Rillo Boy]

I'm afraid putting sand on top of gravel doesn't work; the sand sinks through the cracks and ends up undeneath the gravel. You could syphon the gravel out with a large bore pipe, like a piece of hose, perhaps?

A mix of gravel and sand can look nice and natural (I have that in many of my tanks), as long as it's mostly sand.

Ok.....what depth should I be looking at if I am going for the option of gravel and sand ?

 

[fluttermoth]

You want to take most of the gravel out (I just have a bit around the plants and underneath any large rocks or bits of wood) and fill in the bare areas with the sand.

An inch or so of sand is plenty, if it's just for the fish to play in; you do want a couple of inches if you're going to be planting in it.

 

[Rillo Boy]

You want to take most of the gravel out (I just have a bit around the plants and underneath any large rocks or bits of wood) and fill in the bare areas with the sand.

An inch or so of sand is plenty, if it's just for the fish to play in; you do want a couple of inches if you're going to be planting in it.

I have heard bout gas build up in the sand, is there anything I can do to prevent this ?

 

[fluttermoth]

It's nothing to worry about; you can get areas of anaerobic bacteria forming, but it's not toxic (the gas oxidises as soon as it hits the water).

Giving the sand a bit of a stir when you're water changing will prevent that anyway.

 

[Rillo Boy]

Phew ! That's a relief....if this was your tank, would you go for all sand substrate or mixed with gravel , considering the existing gravel is black

 

[fluttermoth]

I do like black gravel (have it in one of my tanks), but getting black sand can be problematic, and pale sand and black gravel looks a bit odd (although I have that in one of my tanks too )

I think I'd probably change it all out. Or you could keep the gravel and not have cories!

 

[Rillo Boy]

I do like black gravel (have it in one of my tanks), but getting black sand can be problematic, and pale sand and black gravel looks a bit odd (although I have that in one of my tanks too )

I think I'd probably change it all out. Or you could keep the gravel and not have cories!

Only got three Corey's and two clown loaches tho....thinking the sand might make the tank look brighter too......

 

[OldMan47]

If you use sand and gravel in the same tank, use them in separate areas. Mixing sand and gravel of various sizes is the way to build a really solid gravel road, not what you want in your tank. By having the sand take up the little spaces between the grains of gravel, the mix is far more solid than either one would be alone.

 

[Man of fish]

Hey minnnt could you pm me a price and some pics of that java moss. May be interested?