I have chosen sand over rocks and gravel for the past year. I find that the cleaning of my tank goes alot faster with less hassle and mess. I love the way it looks. I like that you do also have color options and feel it looks for like an established hobbyist tank rather than just a guppy aquarium.. LOL
Gravel vs sand
- Thread starter Breid22
- Start date
I've used pool filter sand in most of my tanks for 25 years, gravel before that.
With sand, the mulm and detritus sits on top and is easy to remove, because gravel has comparatively larger gaps between grains, mulm can slip thru, and can, if not deeply vacuumed, become a nitrate sink. But I would think its a purely aesthetic choice in the end.
With sand, the mulm and detritus sits on top and is easy to remove, because gravel has comparatively larger gaps between grains, mulm can slip thru, and can, if not deeply vacuumed, become a nitrate sink. But I would think its a purely aesthetic choice in the end.
It does haha, I can't tell you how many people say
"Man your tank is pretty serious huh?" referring to Sand instead of Gravel
"Oh wow that looks so sleek and professional! it's like the zoo"
I also use pool sand. It is lik 50 lbs for 6$... Filter system doesnt suck it up either. I used aquarium pro sand for my 55g and i have to empty my hob filter all the time... Even after shortening the tube...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
I use both.
Actually I try to use as many sizes as possible.
Basically I pour rice size gravel in the back and sides, and pour play or pool sand in te front center.
So it'll look like it's mostly sand, but also some mixing occurs (current, fish movement etc) and looks really good, plus my plants tend to do better with the rice size gravel.
I almost never use those peasize gravel, looks so tacky.
The rice size gravel is light brown, so it mixes with the white sand beautifully.
Actually I try to use as many sizes as possible.
Basically I pour rice size gravel in the back and sides, and pour play or pool sand in te front center.
So it'll look like it's mostly sand, but also some mixing occurs (current, fish movement etc) and looks really good, plus my plants tend to do better with the rice size gravel.
I almost never use those peasize gravel, looks so tacky.
The rice size gravel is light brown, so it mixes with the white sand beautifully.
I have used silica sand (PFS) for the past 6yrs and never had a problem with it, although I got real busy one month and didnt get around to my tanks as i would have liked and ended up with algae in the sand...I was a pain then, but if you keep up with maintenance you should`nt have a problem.... and keep all filter intakes at least 6" of the sand
