Oscars and Sand

[Teh Fish Dude]

I have a question. I have an oscar a pleco and 2 silver dollars living together. Will sand instead of gravel be bad for them? ANd what about the filter?

 

[petey Z]

well fish dude, i have silver dollars in a 38 with sand, and hes been fine. i also have a pleco in there. A buddy of mine has a oscar with a sand tank and its fine. For filtration, i use the fluval 4 plus, which is very good. There is no trouble iwth the sand and plus its an internal filter. I think you can pretty much have any filter except undergravel. The ehiem classic is a good filter to use with sand.

 

[nc_nutcase]

I'm by no means Mr Sand, but I'm just starting to change a few of my tanks over. From all the research I've done there cannot be any negative impact on fish from sand. Also if you scape it out right there is no negative impact on your filter when using sand. Do note though… most sands will raise your PH so if you are currently at the high end of your fishes PH safe range, you will need to find sand that won’t raise it.

I have been told that Oscars (and other large cichlids) sometimes swallow gravel and it somehow aids in their digestion. I know I've seen my Oscars eat gravel, but I've also see them eat, or at least 'taste' just about everything I put in the tank (including my fingers).

I'll have to admit my Oscar tank is still gravel. It is my biggest aquarium and therefore the hardest and most expensive to change over (I want black sand in all my aquariums). But I've done a fair amount of research and have a 55 gal with black sand now. It makes a couple things different, but nothing harder or 'worse'. Just make sure you take the proper steps to prepare for the change over (read the pinned topics regarding sand, they're very insightful).

 

[freddyk]

most sands will raise your PH so if you are currently at the high end of your fishes PH safe range

Some sands will have an affect, but most actually won't. If you go with a simple and cheap play sand or pool filter sand type, it will look good and have no affect.

I have been told that Oscars (and other large cichlids) sometimes swallow gravel and it somehow aids in their digestion. I know I've seen my Oscars eat gravel

Some fish do, but not oscars. Oscars can actually develop digestive problems from swallowing gravel that doesn't pass (very rare though), while sand will always pass.

The best part about sand, especially with messy fish, is how clean it is. The debris sits on top, rather then sinking below to be out of sight, out of mind, but not out of the aquarium.

 

[Teh Fish Dude]

Well thats my main problem, betweent the 4 of them there is a huge mess. And with white gravel its even worse. My only question is how do you clean sand. I know you cant use a gravel vaccum. Or can you, thats where im lost.

 

[freddyk]

I use filters and powerheads to create water movement all over the tank, so there are very few places the debris can actually settle - it remains in the water column until it's picked up by a filter. I need to do a quick vacuum every now and then, in which case I just syphon it into a bucket - but for the most part my sand is maintenance free. Most people hover the vacuum over the sand and try to pick up as little sand as possible - the debris is lighter. Beware though, even small amounts of sand will collect in your plumbing over time.