My understanding on sand / gravel bed (pro and con);
A. PROs
1. Fine sand help to ease stress. Allowing the ray to hide and make it feel safer.
2. Aerobic bacteria will colonise on the top level of the sand / gravel bed.
3. Anaerobic bacteria will colonise at the bottom of thick sand bed thus helping to reduce NO3.
4. The carbonate content in the sand / gravel act as buffering agent to prevent pH crash.
5. Stingrays glide better on sand bed compared to glass surface.
C. CONs
1. Maintainance issue. Need to do regular cleaning to clear the dirt trapped under the sand / gravel bed.
2. Stiring poorly maintained sand / gravel bed releases Hidrogen Sulfide that is very poisonous in alkaline water condition.
3. The Carbonate content in the sand /gravel increase the water hardness and cause difficulties to achieve soft water condition (not really an issue in keeping rsys).
3. Could effect the mechanical parts for the water pumps.
Please do not hesitate to correct me on any point mentioned above.
A. PROs
1. Fine sand help to ease stress. Allowing the ray to hide and make it feel safer.
2. Aerobic bacteria will colonise on the top level of the sand / gravel bed.
3. Anaerobic bacteria will colonise at the bottom of thick sand bed thus helping to reduce NO3.
4. The carbonate content in the sand / gravel act as buffering agent to prevent pH crash.
5. Stingrays glide better on sand bed compared to glass surface.
C. CONs
1. Maintainance issue. Need to do regular cleaning to clear the dirt trapped under the sand / gravel bed.
2. Stiring poorly maintained sand / gravel bed releases Hidrogen Sulfide that is very poisonous in alkaline water condition.
3. The Carbonate content in the sand /gravel increase the water hardness and cause difficulties to achieve soft water condition (not really an issue in keeping rsys).
3. Could effect the mechanical parts for the water pumps.
Please do not hesitate to correct me on any point mentioned above.
