Sand Or Gravel?

[benniebru]

so im getting rdy to setup a 60 gal American cichlid tank and i don't know weather to use sand or black gravel
i have never used sand b4 and always wanted to but i figured it was a pain to keep. which do u think would be better for cichlids? and if you think sand would be better how do u clean sand since i wouldn't think a gravel vac would be a good idea.

 

[OPENWATER]

so im getting rdy to setup a 60 gal American cichlid tank and i don't know weather to use sand or black gravel
i have never used sand b4 and always wanted to but i figured it was a pain to keep. which do u think would be better for cichlids? and if you think sand would be better how do u clean sand since i wouldn't think a gravel vac would be a good idea.

sand all the way for me,or even a mix, gravel vacs will work just so long as you hold it slightly higher!

 

[sarah86]

i used to have gravel but now have black sand and i prefer the sand. i find it alot easier to keep clean, and as i have some which doesnt cloud the water i find that if i disturb the sand a little then the debris lifts up and the sand settles that way i can syphon it out. the stuff i got was from pets at home and was well worth the money. plus my corys seem so much happier and healthier with the sand aswell as my rams who enjoy picking it up and spitting it out

 

[pauly]

I used to have gravel, now have sand and find it a lot easier to keep clean. The mess just sits on the top and so get flicked up as the fish swim past it causing more of it to get removed by the filter. Then I just syphon off the excess by swirling it around an inch or two above the surface.

Oh and sand looks a million times better.

 

[benniebru]

interesting i would think sand would be harder to keep clean, oh and one more question when the fish kick it up since they will be cichlids would it not make the water cloudy? i dunno i always wanted to try sand like paul said i think it looks so much better but have never tried it since i figured it was a pain to put in and clean

 

[OPENWATER]

interesting i would think sand would be harder to keep clean, oh and one more question when the fish kick it up since they will be cichlids would it not make the water cloudy? i dunno i always wanted to try sand like paul said i think it looks so much better but have never tried it since i figured it was a pain to put in and clean

it will settle back down quickly if "kicked up", go with sand dude

 

[Straydum]

sand i'd say. alittle more work compared to gravel but its all worth it

 

[sarah86]

interesting i would think sand would be harder to keep clean, oh and one more question when the fish kick it up since they will be cichlids would it not make the water cloudy? i dunno i always wanted to try sand like paul said i think it looks so much better but have never tried it since i figured it was a pain to put in and clean

my fish do kick it up sometimes but the sand ive got is fantastic and settles back down straight away. even when i put the sand in to start with it didnt cloud the water, i did try and rinse it but nothing was coming off so i put it in and it wasnt dusty. even with water changes when it gets distubred its not cloudy. have a look at it if your in the uk, i got it from pets at home it was £11.99 a bag which was 8kg (i think). i know its a little more pricey than other places but i'd say it was worth it. i have a 3ft by 1 ft tank and one bag was enough to give a generous covering

 

[jennybugs]

I got some black sand from P@H and it's brilliant. I've only got it in my 20L betta biotope atm but intend to move to sand in my community tank next year

 

[sarah86]

I got some black sand from P@H and it's brilliant. I've only got it in my 20L betta biotope atm but intend to move to sand in my community tank next year

same stuff i got, the black looks really nice im glad i chose it over a lighter sand now, it seems to show off the colours of the plants and fish more