Hey everyone thanks for your answers in advance! I will be purchasing a 125 gallon tank for my 2 Red Devils and I can’t decide what to put at the bottom! I’m stuck between sand and substrate and having a planted tank.. vs the good old aquarium rocks and just having a few rock structures in there. I realize I wouldn’t be able to have a huge aquascape and would rather give the fish room to swim but which would be the best option
Which kinds of plants!?
- Thread starter Fish4evr
- Start date
I don’t think you can get many plants due to the devils sifting through substrate to do their “decorating.” But you probably could get rocks or driftwood with plants on them or you can add the plants yourself, they plants include mosses, java fern, and anubias. All of these do well in all light levels. There are different forms, sizes, and species of anubias so you can have a variety of leave shape/size. I personally favor anubias nana because of the small size, it’s easy to add to hardscape, but can easily become a bunch like mine below.
When I gravel vac/sand vac I try to not take out any sand out of the aquarium, but that usually doesn’t work. But if you have sand sifting fish, your devils will probably be doing that, I have a earth eater, they will help move the sand, so if anything got trapped in it, it could get out meaning you won’t have to gravel vac as much. It seems less stuff gets trapped in sand then gravel.
I would suggest sand just because it's easier to clean. Deitrus and uneaten food will tend to sit on top of the sand rather than working their way down into cracks and crevices like if you have gravel. Also cichlids love to sift thru the sand. And I prefer the look of sand. Just my opinion. ?
I agree with
jeaninel
vacuuming sand is not that bad. Just crimp the hose to prevent sand from being removed.
All sand is not equal.
If you use fine, light weight sand (like play sand, or fine aragonite) it is much more easily stirred up than a more dense type, such as Pool Filter Sand.
I have found because sand has smaller interstitial space between grains than gravel, this prevents detritus from working its way in, and tends hold detritus on its surface, making it easier to vacuum out.
Some aquarists don't like to see detritus sitting on the substrate, but this is what vacuuming with water changes is all about.
By getting rid of stuff that rots and it turns to nitrate, the health of the tank is improved.
And I agree about using plants like Anubius and java fern, they are tough, require only moderate light, and most cichlids consider them too bitter to use as a salad bar.
I attach them to logs and rocks.
ICrypts also work well if allowed to get established, because they will createe a massively spread out root system, under sand substrate, even under low light.
.
Planting the tank well "before" adding large fish is the key. This allows plants to get a strong foot hold, before cichlids start to root around.
In my latest tank, I planted almost two months before adding any substantial sized fish, and then the fish first added maxed out at @3",
If you use fine, light weight sand (like play sand, or fine aragonite) it is much more easily stirred up than a more dense type, such as Pool Filter Sand.
I have found because sand has smaller interstitial space between grains than gravel, this prevents detritus from working its way in, and tends hold detritus on its surface, making it easier to vacuum out.
Some aquarists don't like to see detritus sitting on the substrate, but this is what vacuuming with water changes is all about.
By getting rid of stuff that rots and it turns to nitrate, the health of the tank is improved.
And I agree about using plants like Anubius and java fern, they are tough, require only moderate light, and most cichlids consider them too bitter to use as a salad bar.
I attach them to logs and rocks.
ICrypts also work well if allowed to get established, because they will createe a massively spread out root system, under sand substrate, even under low light.
.Planting the tank well "before" adding large fish is the key. This allows plants to get a strong foot hold, before cichlids start to root around.
In my latest tank, I planted almost two months before adding any substantial sized fish, and then the fish first added maxed out at @3",
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Super helpful thanks so much for these tips!!All sand is not equal.
If you use fine, light weight sand (like play sand, or fine aragonite) it is much more easily stirred up than a more dense type, such as Pool Filter Sand.
I have found because sand has smaller interstitial space between grains than gravel, this prevents detritus from working its way in, and tends hold detritus on its surface, making it easier to vacuum out.
Some aquarists don't like to see detritus sitting on the substrate, but this is what vacuuming with water changes is all about.
By getting rid of stuff that rots and it turns to nitrate, the health of the tank is improved.
And I agree about using plants like Anubius and java fern, they are tough, require only moderate light, and most cichlids consider them too bitter to use as a salad bar.
I attach them to logs and rocks.
ICrypts also work well if allowed to get established, because they will createe a massively spread out root system, under sand substrate, even under low light.
Planting the tank well "before" adding large fish is the key. This allows plants to get a strong foot hold, before cichlids start to root around.
In my latest tank, I planted almost two months before adding any substantial sized fish, and then the fish first added maxed out at @3",
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