Sand or Gravel

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

Best substrate for african cichlid mbuna tank?

  • sand

    Votes: 36 67.9%
  • gravel

    Votes: 13 24.5%
  • other option (please post the alternative)

    Votes: 4 7.5%

  • Total voters
    53
I found Sand to be easier to maintain, I now have sand in all of my tanks. Mbuna love to dig as well, so I could see them enjoying the sand more so then gravel as well.
 
each to their own and looks is in the eye of the beholder....yada yada yada....it all depends on the time you have, the look you want and the fish you have...Water Filtration is the most important...everything else is secondary!
 
swede;3179221; said:
ive never used sand, but i dont wanna fill a mid sized tank with it and hate it


I can relate. I have never had sand, but wanted a black substrate when I got my 150g.

I didn't want to fill a 150g tank with black sand and find out I don't like it - because of my filters etc.

so I went with Estes Black gravel instead.

looks pretty good..
 
I have sand in a 120 mbuna and they seem to love it. Always picking it up and moving it, just using PFS that I picked up from Wal-mart and washed really well. It has good weight so it sinks very well. After I washed I put a small HOB for about a day with floss to get any small grit out before firing up the canister filter.

I also have about 150 lbs of rock in my tank so I put in egg crate across the bottom and very little sand under where I was planning to put the rocks. So far with a python no problems.
 
i use red flint pool filter sand. it's natural colored and so heavy i can vacuum it. if the sand is about to get sucked up i just pinch the hose for a second and let it go back down.
 
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