Sand or gravel? How much substrate?

[303mfk]

go with the fine white commercial sand from home depot..6$ for 100lbs and it washes easy and doenst cloud to much after

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[ultimatejay]

With sand I find it best to have just a very thin layer on the top


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[Crazyfish88]

If the sand is too deep, and doesn't get disturbed enough then you will develop anerobic pockets. These will build up Nitrogen gas and if they get too big when they finally are disturbed the release of the gas into the water column could be toxic to your stock. A deep sand bed must be maintained in a very careful manner or else it is just a time bomb waiting to go off. Many people use MTS to keep the sand aerated to prevent this issue, but then you run the risk of a population explosion if you're not stocking anything that will eat them.

+1. Personally I would go for 2" of sand. It's enough IMO. Less sand the less maintenance. I'd say 200lbs should be enough.


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[Andrew1002]

Gravel is not really an option unless its very fine gravel. But the only place I find this is at petco and its $20 for a 20 pound bag so I don't want to spend that much on it. It's just really small gravel and it would allow for my cichlids to move it easily without harming themselves. It is also immediatly sinking to the bottom. This stuff is awesome! I had my hand in petcos planted tank with it and it doesn't cloud at all and it immediatly sinks! Where can I get this stuff other than petco? Any very fine grained gravel is fine though, so what do you think? I'll ask my stepdad if I can pick some up at his blasting mine. Any grain smaller than 1/8 inches should be fine.

I'M ANDREW AND I'M A FISHAHOLIC
-Andrew

 

[slow302stang]

IV always used play sand as long as you clean it it doesn't cloud the water. If you disturbed it enough and get it clean it wont cloud your water.