Gravel vs Sand

[JoeBoxer]

Hi,

Just quickly want to know what the major pros and cons are of each, and for sand, which is best to go with?

From what I have been reading, sand may be easier to clean as detritus sits on the top. However, it has to be stirred once in awhile to get bubbles out. Also read it may damage filters. I have an aquaclear70 on my tank. Would this be an issue?

Just need some quick input before I decide to buy gravel or sand for my tank.

I would like to plant some hardier plants in this tank and wont be getting any fish that dig or are destructive.

Thanks!

 

[jaws7777]

I've had pool filter sand in tank with ac110's you should be fine.

When i sand from the lfs it was too light and would get caught in the impeller with the slightest movement

 

[Def Leppard Hysteria]

Pool filter sand. I've used play sand in the past. It was a complete disaster compared to pool filter sand. The play sand would compact and would make the water "cloudy" if it got stirred up in the water column. Pool filter sand, depending on brand, is more uniform in size (#20) and is heavy enough to fall back to the bottom if you or your fish stir it up.

 

[JoeBoxer]

I've had pool filter sand in tank with ac110's you should be fine.

When i sand from the lfs it was too light and would get caught in the impeller with the slightest movement

Pool filter sand. I've used play sand in the past. It was a complete disaster compared to pool filter sand. The play sand would compact and would make the water "cloudy" if it got stirred up in the water column. Pool filter sand, depending on brand, is more uniform in size (#20) and is heavy enough to fall back to the bottom if you or your fish stir it up.

View attachment 1189188

Awesome, thanks to both of you for the quick advice. I'll drop by home depot today to get about 20 lbs and see if thats enough.

Any recommendations for washing it? Does it need to soak overnight? Or just keep rinsing and swishing until the water is clear?

Also, I heard I should turn the filter off when I am siphoning. Any other tips?

Thanks again.

 

[jaws7777]

I would check local pool stores. 50 lb back cost me 10 bucks.

Yeah wash it in a bucket. Ive always just filled a bucket 1/4 of the way high with sand and run a garden hose swishing the sand around until the water runs clean.

Search youtube lots of vids on it

 

[JoeBoxer]

I would check local pool stores. 50 lb back cost me 10 bucks.

Yeah wash it in a bucket. Ive always just filled a bucket 1/4 of the way high with sand and run a garden hose swishing the sand around until the water runs clean.

Search youtube lots of vids on it

Awesome thanks. Just got two 20 lb bags from Canadian tire. Home Depot and the pool store I went to didn't have any. The pool store had some volcanic something or other but it was $20 a bag vs $12 at Canadian tire.

Time to wash it!

 

[jaws7777]

Cool.

Another suggestion lower the water level in the tank will make pouring it in much easier. Plus it will drop the temp a bit from being washed in cold hose water so when you fill the tank back up make it a little warmer

 

[JoeBoxer]

Cool.

Another suggestion lower the water level in the tank will make pouring it in much easier. Plus it will drop the temp a bit from being washed in cold hose water so when you fill the tank back up make it a little warmer

Makes sense thanks.

Should I keep the filter intake a certain height above the sand?

 

[ragin_cajun]

I've never had sand damage canister filter pumps on my 125 -- been 3 years now. I keep the intake about 2 inches off the sand maybe. I literally don't do anything special because I have sand. Nothing.

I think the big advantage of PFS is it's cheap, and it looks good. The fish seem to like spitting it all over the place, too.

 

[duanes]

I agree with the others, play sand is too light, easily stirred up by fish, and can easily damage filter impellers.
PFS is more more dense, and because it is sized and weighted to be backwashed, it settles fast, and in this way doesn't get sucked up in filters , and damage them.
Where I lived it cost about $5, for a 50b bag of PFS, well worth the extra buck compared to play sand.
PFS is also often pre-washed so usually not as much dust to wait to settle.
Stirring it up occasionally is also not a big deal, and I find if you don't overfeed, and have decent filtration and regular water changes, H2S bubbles aren't a problem.
When I first changed to sand about 30 years ago, I tried play sand, and it pitted and ruined some of my impellers, below is a shot of one where the casing basically stripped off.