Play sand or Pea Gravel ?

[dolphinfan]

Hi.. my 55gal currently has pea stone in it.. nice size gravel. I want to add some clown loaches..should I replace it with play sand that I have ? Or would they make out okay with the stone ? I want to do what is best for them , so they are happy. Just want to ask you guys what you think.

 

[Austin]

they'll be fine either way. if you go sand though use pool filter sand,way cleaner and looks better IMO

 

[Muske]

They would enjoy digging in the sand, but pea gravel works (and you don't have to exchange it). That's what I have in one tank w/loaches. It's smooth and a smallish size where they can still root in it a little.

What other decor do you have in mind?

 

[dolphinfan]

I've decided to change to the sand. I don't mind the play sand.. its just a pain to clean.. but .. I've done it before.. once done..it looks okay in the tank. The loaches I know will enjoy the sand more anyways..

I have plastic plants, driftwood and getting some large duck weed for the tank next week. Just picked up a young Leopard Ctenopoma.. what a cool looking fish. Can't wait to have the tank changed around and my loaches in there.

 

[Rockbass6]

I've decided to change to the sand. I don't mind the play sand.. its just a pain to clean.. but .. I've done it before.. once done..it looks okay in the tank. The loaches I know will enjoy the sand more anyways..

I have plastic plants, driftwood and getting some large duck weed for the tank next week. Just picked up a young Leopard Ctenopoma.. what a cool looking fish. Can't wait to have the tank changed around and my loaches in there.

Sounds like its going to be a nice looking setup. Depending on how big your setup is a spiny eel species could look very nice, something like a tiretrack, I have also had great success with the small polypterus sp. like senegal, delhezi, as tankmates. Along with java fern or anubius for plants. All would love sand and the plants. Just giving some suggestions of whats worked for me in the past. Clown loaches are so funny to watch!

 

[Lupin]

Sand is always a much more preferred substrate for loaches.

 

[Rockbass6]

I read an article in aquarium fish international, where they mixed playsand, natural pebbles from a stream bed, and a bag of black sand from a local fish store, I saw the tank they did and it looked very nice and had a natural look. That along with malaysian driftwood, your clown loaches would be in love! I am planning on trying it on one of my tanks in the future. I am going to a fish auction, and if I pick up a tank there I am going to try it out.