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
Jamieishard;3179155; said:
i vote gravel i hate sand i bought a ton of new sand and ended up throwing it all away...its just a hot mess lol...i just think gravel is easier to keep up and it doesnt get sucked up in your filter...i had to replace my impellers a couple of times..but its all a matter of personal opinion...
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Agreed 100% All my tanks are gravel or bare bottom.
 
thanks for the input everyone! i went with sand. the tank i just picked up came with a bunch of crushed shells and crushed coral mixed in with black sand. it really looked horrible (you could tell the kids just went to the beach and put all their shells in the tank). I know it has good buffering properties, and plus, the tank was sold to me along with fish, so i was trying to save as much BB as possible. So i just went to walmart and got 3 bags of sand for under 8 bucks! i washed it well and scaped it a bit. the tank is still really cloudy, but i think it will go well with what i will use it for.
 
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Im glad you picked the right choice
 
Sand.. is more natural easier to clean and looks ****ing amazing people that use gravel. Are Fish Newbs and haven't experience the ease of using sand in a Reef tank. It doesnt allow debris buildup like gravel does.

Bring it!! gravel newbs you know who you are.
 
I like sand, had gravel and switched. I will never use gravel againg. Sand is just so natural and pool filter sand is only $ 13.00 for 50 pounds.
 
very find grade quartz less than 2mm. keep away from sand it's cleaning nightmare, and large piples or gravel woun't do either as cichlids like playing and digging in gravel.
 
Just make sure you dont put a deep bed, or it will be alot harder to clean
 
I like sand as well... it is a pain in a way to keep it looking clean but I think it just looks so nice. Especially when you plan to do some nice rock formations, I think nice sand will give it that extra touch.
 
yeah i think sand looks more natural since sand is what covers most rivers and lakes. i've only been in one stream where the bottom was gravel. not that gravel riverbeds dont exist, but its not really the natural riverbed/lake bottom to the fish i'm keeping
 
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