Need Help With Gravel Suggestions

[crmarti]

Hey there, does anyone have any ideas as to what i could use as a cheap gravel in my 95 galloin tank. I plan to put my red devil in the tank and wants the gravel small enough for him to be able to move around with his mouth but to by that much gravel from the LFS would severly hurt my wallet. does anyone have any suggestions or know of anything that has worked in the past for them?

 

[12 Volt Man]

I know for my gravel, I really like the black estes 'special' gravel, that is only available from my LFS.

and I need 150 pounds of it for my next set up. so what I am planning on doing is adding it a bag at a time over time, to ease the stress on the pocket book.

there is no law saying that you have to add it all at once

 

[haynchinook334]

pool filter sand....1 bag+75ga+$5.00=a 95gal tank filled with sand.

 

[crmarti]

haha true i never thought about adding it little by little. Ive always wanted to have a sand setup. Will cichlids still move around sand with their mouths?

 

[Fry]

I like Estes Fine Gravel, it's about $3 for 5 pounds. It's smaller grains gives it a smoother look than regular gravel but it isn't small enough to be easily sucked into your filter, and destroying the filter. Good for planting too.

 

[Muske]

Pea Gravel from Menards or HD. Wash, rinse, repeat. A couple bucks for a 40lb. bag. Cheap, natural, readliy avail.

 

[haynchinook334]

haha true i never thought about adding it little by little. Ive always wanted to have a sand setup. Will cichlids still move around sand with their mouths?

they sure will.

 

[mick11]

I 2nd the pea gravel. Cheap and looks good.

 

[Pharaoh]

All my africans seem to prefer moving sand around as opposed to gravel. I see a lot more substrate movement after switching to sand. We both win!

 

[dragonfish]

Cichlids plus sand equals regular aquascaping. Your tank will have a different look daily.