Media: Sand vs. Gravel

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
thor meeki;3394116; said:
I know it's off topic but w/o a gravel vac on the end of your siphon hose.How do you get the siphon started?
Click to expand...


I don't understand your question...

the principals of a siphon are the exact same with or without a "Gravel Vac"... with a "Gravel Vac" simply being a 12~24" section of larger diameter tub on the end of a hose...

To start a siphon I either A) Submerge a few feet of hose... plug the end not submerged... pull the hose out keeping the water all at the end that is submerged... lower the hose and unplug the far end creating a siphon.... or B) suck on the hose to start th eflow removing the hose from my mouth in plenty of time to ensure I do not get a mouthfull of tankwater...

With short hoses I use method A, with long hoses I use method B... if the long hose is not clean I am likely to use method A instead...
 
What you dont like using method B and getting a mouthful of poo water:ROFL:.

yeah i like method A as i used to do it when i was a pool boy to prime the vacuum hose. plus i dont think my lungs could clear an 1 1/2" hose that was 50' long but hey you never kno
 
i use a 50 foot python and i use the sucking method. once the water clears the lip of the tank the siphon is started. and with 50 feet you have like 10 seconds to take the end away from your face.

on another note, it seems like one inch deep beds are the consensus. is there a problem with a 4 inch bed?
 
Fishman0;3393492; said:
Any bottom dwellers or snails out their that wont be a P.Bass's meal
Click to expand...
You can try horned nerites but all they eat is algae, nothing else. Once you run out of algae, the nerites will simply die of starvation unless you can provide the snails constant supply.
 
vietmanx;3394884; said:
on another note, it seems like one inch deep beds are the consensus. is there a problem with a 4 inch bed?
Click to expand...


4" beds are the norm in salt water tanks...

Outside of the rumors of toxic gasses building up I dont' know what they would hurt in fresh water...

I don't know why the same toxic gases don't form in salt water... Since the same organics are biodegraded... and both anaerobic and aerobic can exist in either water type...

What potential benefit do you feel the 4" bed will give you?
 
my oscars dig up my 2-3 inch gravel right now. so i was hoping to go deeper for them.
 
The only time I have had problems with fish digging down to and exposing the glass is when they want to use the bottom of the tank to lay eggs on...

If your concern is you do not want the bottom glass being exposed, it is unlikely to b e a problem regardless of the depth of sand...

Sand is simply light enough and round enough it just falls back into place. Once the fish hits the solid glass surface they move along and do not continue to widen the exposed glass (unless looking for a flat surface to lay eggs on )...

So I see no benefit to deeper sand beds... yet I've provided arguments above why I believe they are not enough of a threat to worry about...
 
they dig large holes everywhere. where ever there is an exposed area it is under Oscar construction. they stop for nothing, except to fight.
 
I have 2 tanks with sand, and one with small rocks. i prefer the sand because it looks better. somtimes the sand does get dirty but it doesnt take much to clean. BUT i guess if you dont want to spend to much on sand and want a easy clan i would say use small rocks/gravel.:)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom