Sand Versus Gravel

[rabidric]

We have recently added a small beach area to the tank and the fish seem to love it. The puffer rubs his belly on it and then swims around with sand stuck to him, the cats now spend more time on the sand than elsewhere and the others seem to spend more time mooching about in it. We think it looks great too, by the way. Which is the best medium for the tank or is it down to personal taste? I realise that the sand has more surface area for bacteria so would assume that it is "better" as it can support more bugs, a bit like live sand in marine set ups?

Probably an old topic but new to us.

Ta

 

[Luketendo]

Substrate in a tank without an under gravel filter has little bacteria compared to the colony that lives in the filter. It's all up to personal taste really. I have gravel and think it looks dirty so i'm gonna get some black sand when I redo my tank.

 

[TylerFerretLord]

It depends on your fish, really.

If you have loaches or a fish that likes to burrow, sand is the better choice. Other than that, it's just what you like, really.

 

[rabidric]

We've got a puffer, a lobster, a cory, an upside down cat, a syno, tetras and barbs. We like the effect of a beach, buckets and spades are optional and the fish seem to prefer it so I guess it'll probably stay as is but we wondered whether there were any benefits in sand instead of gravel. As it is everyone's happy right now so everything stays as is unless there's a need for change. Just wondered if there were any benefits, one way or the other.

Cheers.