Real Newbie Q's

[zxsixr]

Hi all this is my first real Tropical tank, i would like to know when u do a gravel clean vacum does any difference in the base get mixed together as i have cloured gravel but would like to cover it with black sand?

 

[chibi]

You can't vacuum the substrate when you've got sand and gravel together. When I say vacuum, I mean pushing down into the substrate to pull out any loose debris stuck inside. If you do that with sand on top of gravel, the vacuum will suck the sand up and the sand and gravel would mix together. I wouldn't reccomend a mix if you want to vac it. Stick with gravel if you have a mature tank; if you're still cycling, remove the gravel, replace with sand if you want it and start the cycle over again. It's not very good to change the substrate in a mature tank; gets really messy, dirty, pollutes the tank, etc etc etc.

 

[Tolak]

The two will end up mixing, and eventually the smaller sand particles will work their way to the bottom, much the same as with a bag of chips or a can of nuts. There are tricks to changing substrate, but it usually is a little time consuming, as well as messy.

What size tank is this, how long has it been running, what type of filtration do you have, and what type/quantity of fish are in the tank?

 

[zxsixr]

Its a 80 litre tank only about a week old and still cycling but as it came with green gravel and black artifcial sand now mixed together and after seeing some pics of more natural habitats thats what i want, can i add more of the black artificial sand this early in the cycle?? As my base is only approx 20-25mm deep?

 

[Tolak]

You can add to it, or change it out entirely.

 

[doresy]

Hi, It will mix for sure. I use black quarts varing from 2-3 inches deep. Looks great and at a tenner a bag (4 in a 155 ltr tank) worth it