Gravel vs sand

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Sand is the best. Gravel is a pain in the neck to vacuum. I'll never use gravel again. With sand, you just suck all of the detritus off the top, and you're done.

All of my fish like the sand just fine. Cichlids still dig in it.

You'd really have to neglect your tank to have an issue with toxic gas building up. Anyone that does weekly maintenence should never have this issue.
 
I use play sand from the hardware store. Never had a problem. Just make sure you wash it thoroughly to remove dust. If not it could take up to a month for your tank to clear
 
gnuisance said:
I use play sand from the hardware store. Never had a problem. Just make sure you wash it thoroughly to remove dust. If not it could take up to a month for your tank to clear
Click to expand...

Why would you use playsand when you can get PFS?

Playsand is dirtier, less heavy, and has a smaller grain size. It kicks up more, clouds up the water easier, and gets in your filters much easier. There really is no up side to using play sand over PFS.

PFS all the way. It's heavier, and looks better.
 
I only use gravel in smaller tanks like 10g but ive never used or will use gravel again in out big tanks. Its so much cleaner and nicer more natural look. Ive never seen the point of having nice plants and driftwood and then bam! Blue gravel. Cichlids will dig pits though so have patience to always fill in holes and that nice smooth surface will look like a roller coaster with cichlids. I have tile in my 125 g which is also another option and cleanest so far and nicer to loom at compared to bare bottom. I have pfs in one tank and playsand in the other so far i like the look of playsand better but its much dustier than pfs. I see little clouds of white everytime my loaches and cories dig into it.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
Another thing with cichlids to consider:

My hait has been growing some AWESOME teeth since I changed him to sand. He digs a lot, and I think the gravel was grinding his teeth down. He's looking mighty mean with teeth now. I don't think I'd want to get bit by him.
 
seedubs1 said:
Another thing with cichlids to consider:

My hait has been growing some AWESOME teeth since I changed him to sand. He digs a lot, and I think the gravel was grinding his teeth down. He's looking mighty mean with teeth now. I don't think I'd want to get bit by him.
Click to expand...
See that was my other thought my dovii has teeth that I think the gravel Is wearing down since he digs a lot
 
Why would you use playsand when you can get PFS?

Playsand is dirtier, less heavy, and has a smaller grain size. It kicks up more, clouds up the water easier, and gets in your filters much easier. There really is no up side to using play sand over PFS.
Click to expand...


I've used both, and in my case the play sand sold locally was a bit heavier/coarser than the PFS. The play sand was also clean out of the bag (came pre-washed), and more natural looking than any PFS that I have seen. I've also seen some very dirty play sand locally as well, very fine, very dirty, and certainly not something that I would ever use in one of my tanks.

It all boils down to the source of the sand, and the mesh/grain size of that sand.

Just as sand can vary depending on the source, so can gravel. I have two 125's that both have gravel in them (purchased at a local landscape supply), but I keep the substrate depth very low, and the gravel is quite fine. It's actually quite easy to maintain, IMO just as easy as sand.

Hard to say what looks more natural, or is more user friendly for the fish - it really depends on the fish that one keeps.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom