Sand or Gravel Pros and Cons for both

[caxcrew]

Just brought a 300 gallon aquarium and i've always used gravel in my aquarium and want to try sand how much would i need im guessing pool sand is best any perticular color. Or should i just stick with gravel.

 

[Itsadeepbluesea]

well sand looks better...when its clean. I have sand at the moment and would have suggested it to anyone at one point, it is a pain to keep pristine I'm thinking of switching back to gravel as it is much easier to keep clean.

 

[reptileguy2727]

With adequate flow sand should always be clean. It keeps things on top and if you have enough flow debris will keep moving until the filters grab it. If you don't have enough flow it will collect in a few easy to vacuum out piles.

PFS usually only comes in a very light tan, almost white. This will cause your fish to wash out their colors. I prefer either solid black or black and white mixed (which will hide almost anything on it very well).

Some people have had problems with silica based sands causing brown algae problems. I prefer Estes' Ultra Reef. It is silica based but has a coating to prevent brown algae problems. It would run about the cost of buying aquarium gravel.

Here is a pic of my goldfish on black and white mixed.