sand or gravel
- Thread starter Snook000
- Start date
I definitely prefer sand or fine grained gravel, anything 3mm or smaller. I found large grained gravel can be a real pain to plant things in and keep them planted, while with sand, planting anything no matter how big or small is really easy.
When I used plants with gravel I'd just gravel vac the areas that weren't planted and try not to disturb the plants. With sand or fine gravel I just wave the gravel vac over the surface to pick up whatever crud is sitting on it. Since sand and fine gravel compacts better than larger grained gravel, fish poop and debris don't sink through it much and sit on the top.
When I used plants with gravel I'd just gravel vac the areas that weren't planted and try not to disturb the plants. With sand or fine gravel I just wave the gravel vac over the surface to pick up whatever crud is sitting on it. Since sand and fine gravel compacts better than larger grained gravel, fish poop and debris don't sink through it much and sit on the top.
thats pretty thorough
I would stay up towards the 3mm mark though
too fine of sand can have it's own problems
very fine gravel or very course sand
I would stay up towards the 3mm mark though
too fine of sand can have it's own problems
very fine gravel or very course sand
I use sand from the beach. Really fine. No idea how small 3mm is but i'm pretty sure mine is even smaller.
Gravel,
In my personal opinion, I think the plants root better and faster in gravel, I've also had better growth with gravel.
In my personal opinion, I think the plants root better and faster in gravel, I've also had better growth with gravel.
You should start a poll >.<
I have never used sand but i have used soil covered in regular plant gravel.
I have never used sand but i have used soil covered in regular plant gravel.
Everything I've read about aquatic plants has suggested fine gravel.
You would vacuum around the plants, whatever you could. Stuff would inevitably get stuck in the substrate, but any additional waste from the decomposing poop would be absorbed by the plants.
You would vacuum around the plants, whatever you could. Stuff would inevitably get stuck in the substrate, but any additional waste from the decomposing poop would be absorbed by the plants.
Might be neat to do your own mineralized top soil...but
If you make me choose between those two its sand. Gravel can be harsh on stems...no good fine roots either in my mind.
If you make me choose between those two its sand. Gravel can be harsh on stems...no good fine roots either in my mind.