Sand Substrate

[Galaxy]

I currently have grave as my substrate but I was thinking of creating a more interesting landscape by having part sand/ part gravel. I was wondering though how to clean the sand? Does it not all get sucked up the siphon when cleaning??

Has anyone encountered this problem

 

[Chasing Puck]

With sand, you don't have to dig in with the siphon, just sweep it over the top--waste doesn't get trapped in sand like it does in gravel. Very easy to pick the solids wastes off the surface with a siphon.

One thing--everyone I know of who has tried to mix sand and gravel end up with a mix. Fish and water move them around until it's spread all over. If you use a bowl for the sand, it will help, but there's still going to be some mixing.

 

[Tednol]

if you have the gravel at a higher level than the sand then it might work.
maybe you can put bigger bits of gravel that cant be moved by a fish at the barrier of where sand and gravel meet.
i saw a picture and it was really effective

 

[nightlife20]

i dont think the idea of gravel and sand ever works out.. in the end it will prolly look a mess..

if you want sand then i suggest a straight sand swap... once you start to use sand u will never go back to gravel.. even i dont wanna go back

all 3 of my tanks are sand

 

[Galaxy]

Thanks for the advice guys

 

[abstract]

i dont think the idea of gravel and sand ever works out.. in the end it will prolly look a mess..

if you want sand then i suggest a straight sand swap... once you start to use sand u will never go back to gravel.. even i dont wanna go back

all 3 of my tanks are sand

agreed

 

[SirMinion]

agreed

Oh yes, sand is the way to go, and if you have cories, kribs or loaches, they will love you forever.

 

[subopposite]

Another sand fan here. Tried gravel first.

 

[Puffer_freak]

Hooligan keeps hers in half and half, works fine!!!!

It is seperated with big slate cobble like things!!!! The gravle is also higher up, will try and post pics if possible, depends if you want any or not!

 

[nightlife20]

hmmm ok!!!!! chill a bit, its called an opinion...

imo it dosnt look good at all, if ur havin sand, have sand, if ur havin gravel have gravel.. whats the point of havin both? after a few water changes it will eventualy mix up.

how does she clean the gravel if there is rocks covering it?
how long has it been like that? (truthfuly?)

i had gravel, i didnt like it. it was messy and very hard to keep clean, where as sand, its just a quick on ce over and its done

 

[Tednol]

when i asked someone at my local fish shop for sand they said,
" We dont do sand"
so i said
"any reason for that?"
and he said
" because when you get a piece of food float to the bottom or poo then in the morning it will be black and it will smell horrible"
And yet everyone else on this forum has sand and has no problem

is there a specific type of sand ?/
and do you have to put plants in pots?

 

[nightlife20]

when i asked someone at my local fish shop for sand they said,
" We dont do sand"
so i said
"any reason for that?"
and he said
" because when you get a piece of food float to the bottom or poo then in the morning it will be black and it will smell horrible"
And yet everyone else on this forum has sand and has no problem

is there a specific type of sand ?/
and do you have to put plants in pots?

nope and nope... you can use ordinary play sand... just make sure u was it realy good... like with other sands...


the food turning black is crap! i mean come on, everyone knows only to feed as much as they need! and for it turning black it would have to stay in there a hell of along time

 

[Tednol]

o great,
so that tank i set up could of had sand in but now it has gravel.

but what about plants, the guy at the lfs said that you cant grow plants in it

 

[shmax101]

I recently broke down a fully planted 75 gallon that was up and running for about a year and a half. I had a mix of play sand and cichlid sand(ph buffer), and let me tell you, stuff DOES get trapped down in the sand. It looked real nice, and the plants kept nitrates down, but i have never smelled anything like what came out of that tank when taking those plants out It was so bad... raw sewage has nothing on the black muck that was in the very bottom. I love sand for substrate don't get me wrong, but if you have live plants, be prepared when you take that sucker down lol.

 

[nightlife20]

o great,
so that tank i set up could of had sand in but now it has gravel.

but what about plants, the guy at the lfs said that you cant grow plants in it

ok... have u got a printer... if so print this off an show the 'muppet' in the lfs

this is my 40-oddgal tank

fully planted, and with SAND

i suggest u change ur lfs he sounds like a complete muppet, i wouldnt take any advice on wipin my own arse off him