Sand And Gravel In Same Tank

[PCeeTech]

Hello all,

I've searched through here, but couldn't find an answer.. Is it possible to have part sand, and part gravel in the same tank. In other words, I would like to have mostly gravel in my 29 gallon tank, but I thought it would be neat to place sand in a corner area to make my clown loach happy since he is a digger (or so I've read). Any thoughts?

PCeeTech

Ok, so I didnt look hard enough LOL. After posting, I ran into this very topic in the Pinned sand topic, not sure why I didnt see it.... Still I would like to hear from anyone that's done this, and get an opinion as to any problems, or things to look out for...

Thanks

 

[Tessla]

In case you haven't run into it yet (and sorry if you have and have plans already) clown loaches get much too large for 29 gallons and need to be kept in groups of at least three. You're best off rehoming/returning him and getting a different loach species; zebra, zipper or dwarf chain loaches could all be kept in a group of three or four in your tank depending on your current stocking. Loaches are most excellent fish when kept in groups of the same species, very social and active.

As for keeping part sand part gravel, that mostly depends on your bottom dwellers and how much they like to dig. Botia type loaches are very active buggers, so you probably wouldn't have the sandy patch for very long, I'd either go all sand or all gravel. They'll appreciate sand, but aren't diggers like kuhli loaches or spiny eels so if you'd prefer gravel, that's fine too.

 

[PCeeTech]

Thanks for the great info

I've decided to go with gravel only since that is what I already have.

As far as the clown loach, he is actually in a 10 gallon now . My sister thought my boys need fish since they are allergic to everything else, so she went to the lfs and they sold her a bill of goods, and some bad info to go along with it, including a clown loach, 2 serpae tetras, and 2 dalmation mollies (1 since died). This is where I come into the picture. I decided that since I'm going to wind up taking care of these critters, I should find out more about this fish keeping thing. I found this forum, and since then I've learned that what I was given is not really compatible per se. The only thing I have going for me right now is that these fish are very small right now, however, I do know they will out grow their accomodations. My friend had his 29 gallon for sale cheap, so I decided to buy it to help the situation. I plan to place the mollie and loach in the 29, after fishless cycling of coarse, (thanks to the education on this forum). He's only about 1.5 inches right now, so I'm just hoping that the clown grows slow enough that I will be able buy so time to get a larger tank for him, and maybe add a couple of buddies for him too.

Right now, I'm just trying to get the 10 gal stable, and starting to assemble the 29 at the same time..

Thanks,
PceeTech

 

[Tessla]

I understand completely, I got stuck with two clowns in a ten gallon that I didn't purchase, currently in the process of rehoming them. They grow quite fast while small and slow down once they get larger, I'd either rehome him now or get him a friend or two, definitely don't keep him alone.