Sand or gravel?

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Matt181

Gambusia
MFK Member
Mar 16, 2007
461
2
18
Hertford, UK
hi all

i am setting up a big tank (size yet to be decided probably 50g) stocking to be decieded (central american cichlids preferably GT ect and i want to keep clown loach definately) but i don't know what else. but sand or gravel? i cant deciede. sand looks better and is im told is kinder to fishes barbles but is harder to keep clean. gravel is the opposite lol. i am worried that sand will damage my external filter and about cleaning as i don't want my water quality to suffer. so sand or gravel.

thanks
Matt
 
I have 3 tank's ,2 with sand 1 with gravel.My 5 ft tank has sand .The sand will naturally collect one end so put intake pipe other end.Ive had no problem's with sand in my external.I think sand is eaier to keep clean than gravel other's may not aggree.
 
thanks for the replys:woot::grinno:

sand seems to be the best option here it seems and i prefer the look personally. so sand it is.

just a couple of questions:

1) how do you clean sand, i've heard many ways but which one works best?

2) when first setting up do you need to rinse sand like gravel? if so how?

thanks-sorry for all the questions
Matt
 
Yes you definatly need to clean it. The best way is if you can get a piece of PVC pipe and mount a hose connecter to one end, drill some holes in the side. About a 2.5 ft piece about 2.5" dia. Cap it and put a hole about every 1/2". Open the top of the bag and stick the PVC in the sand. Turn the water on and let it flow till it turns clear. Stir it occasionally.

If you don't want to make a washer, you can open the top of the bag and pour water in from the top and stir with your hand. It take a while to get it clean. The more cleaning you do, the less settling you have to wait for.
 
1)If you mean how to clean it in the tank, I vaccum it in the tank with a siphon like an inch away from the sand, that way it picks up the waste but not the sand.
2) Before you put it in the tank, rise it till the water runs clear. I learned the hard way, it said prerinsed, I shouldnt of trusted it, so I had to keep stirring the sand while it was in the tank, doing multiple water changes untill it wasnt nearly as cloudy.
Also, there are drops you can get to make the sand settle, if it somehow still remains cloudy.
 
thanks for the replys guys!!:D

i have read that sand sometimes go anareobic and has horrible consequences e.g. death ect. i know i would need to stir to prevent this but would fish that dig, e.g. clown loach do this for me? would it be sufficent? how often would i need to stir?

thanks, one question gets answered 3 more pop into my head lol
Matt
 
depends on the depth of the sand and the number of "diggers" you have... I have a 7" Pleco that seems to have taken it upon himself to try to turn over the sand as much as he can... but he's just nuts LOL

I have a garden rake that is small and I run it through the sand every 3 weeks to release any gas build ups and to help keep the sand evened out... you'll know you need to do it more if you get a nasty smell coming from the tank when you agitate it...
 
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