im buying a 180 soon and im gona throw in about 2" of sand and 1" of gravel and the tank will have a lmb and a smb, is that enough biological filtration to keep the water clean? or does it depend upon current and factors other than substrate
depth of substrate for clean water
- Thread starter szymon328
- Start date
Keeping your water clean has very little to do with substrate. You need proper filtration from a properly sized filter first of all. Set up properly, it should produce a current, which will move the nasty bits into the filter. A good filter will have both mechanical, and biological filtration.
With 180 gal tank, you'll need a large sump filter or large canister filter. Forget the little Hang On Back type, as they are extremely inefficient and really only help in small tanks. Canisters are great at mechanical filtration, sumps are great at biological filtration. Personally, I use both, along with live plants, and I still don't feel its good enough.
With 180 gal tank, you'll need a large sump filter or large canister filter. Forget the little Hang On Back type, as they are extremely inefficient and really only help in small tanks. Canisters are great at mechanical filtration, sumps are great at biological filtration. Personally, I use both, along with live plants, and I still don't feel its good enough.
I do respect everybody's opinion, but I do think substrate(especially gravel) has a great deal to do with keeping water clean. It helps with biological bacteria and helps catch small particles.
this is a nice thread to read: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=264851
gravel only would be better b/c 2" of sand would create some sand pockets
im no expert but i would think something to allow water circulation would make your substrate more effective, like an undergravel filter with a powerhead.
gravel only would be better b/c 2" of sand would create some sand pockets
im no expert but i would think something to allow water circulation would make your substrate more effective, like an undergravel filter with a powerhead.
ha that didnt take long to get responses 
the tank comes with a sump i think and im thinking about getting a power head, the sand idea was just to save some $$$$$ cuz a bag of 50 pounds of sand is like 8 bucks lol so according to the link provided bio filtration isn't needed? just the regular stock sponges and carbon that come with the stock HOB
the tank comes with a sump i think and im thinking about getting a power head, the sand idea was just to save some $$$$$ cuz a bag of 50 pounds of sand is like 8 bucks lol so according to the link provided bio filtration isn't needed? just the regular stock sponges and carbon that come with the stock HOBBODYDUB;4181231; said:
Good grief, yes. I was going to say something long winded, but decided against it, till your . and ? buttons got sticky. I know hes using gravel and sand mixed, which IMO is a waste, but to each his own. BUT what I meant by my statement is that Sand creates gas pockets if not stirred regularly, but gravel will not.
If he uses gravel on top of sand, he can not expect it to be fine, you still have to stir the sand, which will cause your gravel to mix in, and in the end, it would be like not having gravel at all.
Of course the way around creating gas under sand and stirring it your self, is to have something in the tank that stirs it for you.
