Opinions Wanted!

[tonilee7]

I have got an oscars tank, I would like to know what is better in the bottom; gravel, rocks or marbles.
My local pet shop has a very big oscar with marbles in the bottom of his tank, the fella says it makes it easier to clean, but on the other hand I have had people tell me that marbles are no good because the good bacteria will not stick to the marbles because of the smooth surface which will make it alot more prone to get ammonia poisoning. I have concidered just having large rocks but I have been told and I have read that it is not really safe because even a very small oscar can pick up a very large rock and do damage to or even break the glass of the tank, I am confused as to which would be the best option, I have gravel at the moment but when you have gravel I find you are constantly cleaning it because every time your oscar stirs up the gravel the tank gets #### every where and if I totally change the water it takes alot of time to clean that many rocks!!! So please let me know your opinion

 

[Ferris]

I would go with gravel or sand. If you use marbles i don't see how you can clean the tank with various layers of relatively heavy glass balls. Rocks would be a risk as you have said, any accidents and the tank could get damaged.

Also gravel or sand creates a much better natural look IMO.

 

[deliverance]

i agree with ferris on this one. i like the look of sand compared to gravel

 

[mamafish68]

just make sure and INtake valves for filters are well away from sand, personaly iv'e been thru a bunch of impellers from sand getting into the filter so I learned thehard way. But I have sand in all of my tanks and wouldnt go back to gravel, the fish sift it for micro yummies and it goes back into place easier then stacked up gravel does.
add some large rocks for decoration and size wise it would help your oscar feel more secure.

whats the size of your tank anyway??

 

[j.c]

just make sure and INtake valves for filters are well away from sand, personaly iv'e been thru a bunch of impellers from sand getting into the filter so I learned thehard way. But I have sand in all of my tanks and wouldnt go back to gravel, the fish sift it for micro yummies and it goes back into place easier then stacked up gravel does.
add some large rocks for decoration and size wise it would help your oscar feel more secure.

whats the size of your tank anyway??

i agree with ferris IMO i would not put large rocks or pebbles in there as it will stop them from digging which is unatural and cruel for them.