You are not alone. I prefer gravel over sand, not coase gravel, but fine gravel between 1 to 2 mm size. My favorite gravel is dolomite. With gravel vac, cleaning is easier than sand which can get sucked away. Over time, gravel will break down into sand anyway, so I have to replenish the loss from vacuuming. Gravel allows better oxygenation beneath the surface and hide waste better than sand or bare bottom. The aerobic zone for gravel is about 1/2 inch, and for sand about 1/4 inch, so there is no additional biofiltration benefit by having substrate thicker than 1/2 inch. Bare bottom is hardest to keep clean as there is no hiding places for waste.
Gravel vs Sand
- Thread starter Mpronsky11
- Start date
I hate sand. It can ruin your filter and scratch your glass. Is easily compacted. A bit more difficult to clean than gravel. Not really good for growing plants.
Totally disagree on all counts. Have had sand in multiple tanks for extended periods(years) with varied filtration and have not experienced any difficulties nor has any glass suffered. Also ran a heavily planted tank with nothing but sand. Was constantly needing to trim them and regularly had pearling.
If you want to change over with fish still in it just do half at a time that way avoiding a major loss of bacteria.
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I have an acrylic tank with umbees, so they can kick up a mess. Gravel would be able to do more damage than sand if it impacts the acrylic but sand kicks up much more easily so its a mixed bag. Glass shouldnt really have that problem so I see your point, but it may be a concern for some acrylic tank owners
The trick to not vacuum up the sand durung wc is to use a gravel vac with a long tube. I use one that's got a 2 ft long tube. Since the tube is long you can easily shake out any sand that looks like its going to go up the tube. I think vacuuming sand like that is a lot cleaner because you really get at the dirt and debris deep in the sand bed.
Ive got both. I have gravel in my 210g and sand in my 56g column. I like the look of the sand better but it does show the poop, which just sits on the surface ready to vac up. The gravel holds a ton of crap in it but looks cleaner.
Imo...
SAND: Food and poop sit on top of the sand. Easy cleaning. I plug everything into a power strip. But the lights have there own plug. I flip the switch off and do all my cleaning. When I'm done. I flip the switch back on. I have heard the sand can scratch the tank. So I'm careful. But I have no scratches. I think that's more of a issue with acrylic plastic tanks. I use "pool filter sand" that is heavier 100% silica. It does table done time. But if you rince it real good and after some dozen cleaning of the tank. You will never have a issue with floating sand. So in short. It's more natural looking. You can see any food or poop on top of the sand, vs gravel that sits under all the rocks. And some fish enjoy it more then rocks they can't move. When they really want to.
GRAVEL: I like gravel. I prefer the smaller round natural looking gravel. I like how many selections, types, and coler anyone can choose from. My wife has a 90g and a 75g tank with rainbow colored gravel. It's cute and pretty. Not what I would ever pick. But its a bennifit of gravel over sand. But at the same time. You cab almost drain your entire aquarium trying to sift through getting all the food and poop from under the gravel. A.d you never know how clean you get your tank. Because it all gets sucked under the gravel. We have a 125g with gravel. (was too lazy to take it out) a 125g with sand (my main focus tank) and then my wife's 2 tanks with her rainbow stuff.
I hope this helps you make up your mind. In a min ill add some pictures to show u how my baic tanks look. Also... I have 5 live plans in my sand that has grown and rooted with no issues. Hence a comment I scanned through what someone said you can't grow live plants.
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If I had a dollar for every filter impeller that was ruined by sand, I'd be rich. I've seen many aquariums with scratches caused by sand while cleaning the glass with a pad or magnetic algae cleaner. As far as growing plants, some sand is too compact for plant growth. The roots get smothered and rot. Use what you like. I hate sand.
And if I had a dollar for everyone who ever brought back a cheap hob filter with junk parts I'd be rich too. A simple prefilter will protect your filter if that's the type you're using. Cleaning your algae pad in between, as you should anyway, will prevent that scratching and I think I already addressed the planted tank. Personally not liking something does not equal it being bad. But agreed, use what you like now that you've heard both sides.
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