sand or gravel?

[convict94]

i know this has been posted multiple times but im too lazy to find the others...how do you do a waterchange with sand? does it get sucked up the tube because its soo small? i'm looking into getting a bichir and want to know if having medium sized gravel would affect him in any way? because bichirs are belly crawlers will the gravel irritate his belly? thanks in advance.

 

[thefishguy7]

gravel is okay for bichirs, but they probably like sand more.

I actually made up the same thread about sand a little while ago, here's the link: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106615

 

[Ang]

Just use pool filter sand. It's heavier than silica sand and wont be sucked up your gravel vac. (certainly not as easily)

 

[ziggy2]

I never lose any of mine, but my water pressure isn't that great.

 

[Merbeast]

With sand, all the poop stays on top. Sounds great, right? Well, remember that you will be looking at POOP between water changes. Bichirs make nice big poops. Some members report their bichirs eating gravel, not being able to pass it and dying from it. I have bichirs on gravel in one tank and sand in another. I prefer the gravel, I get tired of looking at poop (and I do gravel vacs 2-3 times per week).

 

[convict94]

i think i might stick with the gravel...i don't think my tank would look good with sand. but thats my opinion.

 

[Idealconcepts]

If you use sand (or gravel), incorporate and under sand/gravel jet system that circulates the poop around so the filter intakes pick it up. I use a Quite1 (4000) pump. Reduces your frequency of vac'ing the sand or gravel and sometimes if you have it perfect you don't have to vac anymore. I have it on both my 300gal Aro/American Cichlid tank and my 135gal African Cichlid (Malawi) tank. Works great.

 

[Temperance]

Depends on the fish gravel is better for my red devil bc he likes to dig but if you run salt water sand is best. Also if you have a red devil get smaller rocks it's quieter when they throw the them

 

[convict94]

i just got rid of my red devil. now i have a severum green terror and a rainbow cichlid but i want a delhezi so i want to know what is best for a bichir. and as i said i will stick with the gravel that i have.

 

[BushFishRox]

I have recently switched from gravel to sand, now all I do is dredge the bottom with my net holding all the waste and such and leaving the sand in the tank and then just change the water with the python...