Whats Best Sand Or Gravel

[mr&missjenkins]

not shore if this has been posted up b4 just wondering was looking into setting my tank up with sand but was told that itis very difficalt to keep on top of cleaning ect ect so opted 4 the gravel root has any1 had any joy with sand

many thanks andy

 

[england]

hi what fish is it for? I also find i want sand soo bad but worry about cleaning it etc etc........Gravel is sooo easy to maintain,,i have gravel in all three of my tanks

 

[onebto]

I went with sand for my first tank I love it and its easy enough to clean

But yet again apart from application its up to the individuals taste

 

[Miah002]

I agree with onebto, I recently converted my biorb with sand and it's easy to clean.

It's the same as cleaning gravel.

 

[rdd1952]

It's really a matter of personal preference ans what you think looks best (yes, some people even like the hot pink gravel) but fish like corys, loaches, etc. prefer sand. Rough edged gravel can injury them as they roor around in the substrate. As mentioned, sand is also easier to clean as the waste just sits on top rather than filtering down into the gravel.

 

[Truck]

cories+sand=happy fish and owner with clean sand

 

[lil-x-me...x]

would anyone recomend sand to go in a biorb 15ltr? which is planning to have a betta in? thanks x

but i would have to have some out of the aquarium i already have if so...for a betta what would it prefer?

 

[Truck]

would anyone recomend sand to go in a biorb 15ltr? which is planning to have a betta in? thanks x

no you must use the ceramic media, as that is the main filter bacteria breeding grounds.

unless you modify it

 

[Miah002]

You can but you have to change you filter to an ehiem aqauball.

Go to this link and look at the modified biorbs.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=220270

 

[DJ ArKaDaRkA]

once sand has settled can it kick back up again or does it compact hard on the bottom?

 

[Truck]

it vcan be kicked up an inch or so but sinks within 2 seconds

 

[DJ ArKaDaRkA]

it vcan be kicked up an inch or so but sinks within 2 seconds

cool

i really like the look of the really fine black gravel but can be bothered to empty the tank to change over

 

[rdd1952]

It really won't kick back up at all unless you dig in it as in placing plants and the like. Some sand may compact but I've never had a problem but that could be because I have live plants and the roots will keep the sand loose. How the sand reacts (settles) when you stir it up also depends on the type sand you have. Cheaper sands like play sand are full of fines and dust and thus take longer to wash before placiing in the tank. Even after a thorough washing, there will still be some dust to settle and once you stir it up, you will once again see dust that takes a while to settle. Other products such as Tahitian Moon Sand, have almost no fines and settle immediately when originally put in the tank and when stirred up.

 

[DJ ArKaDaRkA]

It really won't kick back up at all unless you dig in it as in placing plants and the like. Some sand may compact but I've never had a problem but that could be because I have live plants and the roots will keep the sand loose. How the sand reacts (settles) when you stir it up also depends on the type sand you have. Cheaper sands like play sand are full of fines and dust and thus take longer to wash before placiing in the tank. Even after a thorough washing, there will still be some dust to settle and once you stir it up, you will once again see dust that takes a while to settle. Other products such as Tahitian Moon Sand, have almost no fines and settle immediately when originally put in the tank and when stirred up.

cool i will look into that then

 

[rdd1952]

TMS is black and more expensive but I love the way it looks in the tank. It also seems to really bring out the colors of fish. Much easier to see their colors against the black sand than against light colored substrate.