Sand or Gravel

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G-Code

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 30, 2009
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Oregon
)v(onster Fish Keepers!!!!

I am looking for info on gravel vs sand. I currently own a 55 gallon tank with oscars that are getting too big. I would love to get a bigger tank but cant due to lack of space. So my option is to find them a better home and start a new tank. I am thinking of getting about 5 red belly piranahs and completely changing the aquascape by switching to sand and live plants (since I will not have cichlids that dig). Would gravel work better with live plants or sand or is it just personal preference? Will I have different reactions with water chemistry with sand? Also I use a gravel vacuum when doing water changes. I am guessing that this is not possible with sand... so how do you clean it up? Also attached pic of my current Oscars and 1tha I found of my old red bellies. I'm new to the site... I finally figured out how to navigate and post threads instead of blogs. Maybe now I'll get some feedback. Thanks everybody!!!
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thats a stange looking oscar (the white one). almost looks like he has the face of a parrot hybrid!!
 
Lol... yeah, he's a funny look'n one but has personality. Come on people... ugly fish need love too!!!
 
You can use a gravel vac with sand. Just hover it over the sand, like half an inch to an inch frm the sand, it will still pick it up. I had plants in sand, and they died. I really didn't have the best light source for them so maybe that's why. I would choose sand over gravel any day, even though sand can suck at times. Personally I like Bare-bottom tanks, but sand would be second.
 
Packer43064... why do you say sand can suck at times? So would it be neccessary for me to change my lighting too? I was considering a white or lighter color sand. Would it be too reflective and bright for piranah?
 
Sand works a treat for me in my two tanks.If you have'nt got any bottom dwellers, you need two stir it up a bit every few days.I keep a lot of coolie loach and corydoras in my tanks, they seem to do the trick of stopping the sand from going stagnant.I do stir it up a bit ,then hover the vacuum over it every few days as well.It takes a bit of practice but it's worth it.Sand always looks better.
 
G-Code;2801657; said:
Packer43064... why do you say sand can suck at times? So would it be neccessary for me to change my lighting too? I was considering a white or lighter color sand. Would it be too reflective and bright for piranah?
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I use to have trouble with a smaller tank once and algae would get on the sand. When using the syphon the algae would weigh more and it wouldn't pick it up, it took awhile just syphoning because I couldn't pick it up, so I just stay bare-bottom. It's just eaiser with messier fish, but to each his own. The sand color should be fine, if they seem like they are hiding alot, jus turn the light off then. It's all good, it really doesn't matter how much light they get, in the wild they wouldn't always be out in the open.
 
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