Sand Or Gravel ?

[jr.stratton@virgin.net]

Which is best ?

 

[Snick]

hmm, it really depends... i personally prefer a sandier substrate since vacuuming is MUCH easier since teh mess dont go through the gravel, it stays ontop. also, plants enjoy sand more.... i recomend more like very small gravel, berely gravel... more like sand, yet not as light, so it wont lift up into the water; silica, or blasting sand, is exellent.

 

[severina]

Depends on what fish you want. PS: Its easier to clean gravel

 

[Snick]

hmm, not really, actually sand is easier to clean... instead of having the stuff go into the gravel, in the sand the stuff stays ontop, therefore making it much more easier to vacuum away. oh, and some cichlids enjoy making large holes and remodeling the substrate a little, like my parrot!

 

[Villy Valley]

I changed to sand when my fish swalled a stone and died a few days later. Would not go back to gravel now.

Villy Valley

 

[Torrean]

Gravel is easier to look at because you don't have food and poo gathering on the surface. Sand is better in this respect because it doesn't hide the fact that you need to clean your substrate. They are both easy to clean from what I've read on sand and my experience with gravel. With gravel you stick the vac down in the gravel and wait for the water in the tube to clear then stick it in another place. With sand you swirl the vac 1" above the substrate lifting the muck into the tube. Then run your hands through the sand to loosen the compaction. Make sure to do this under ornaments too. There is a debate going on about anaerobic bacteria but I don't think you really want black spots in your sand. It's really up to personal preference and fish requirements though. If you like the look of sand use sand or if you have cories or other sand lovers use sand. If not use gravel. There is a good pinned thread on sand in the chit chat FAQ