sand or gravel

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
G

gar2011

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 24, 2011
9
0
0
Canada
hi everyone i was just wondering what is a better option sand or gravel?

i heard gravel traps feces easier because of the gaps in between all the rocks but sand is harder to clean and when first putting into your tank you have to shut off our filter and powerheads for a whole day until it settles so it doesn't suck up sand into our filter and ruin it. (running fx5)

any help would be appreciated thanks:P
 
Sand is great but I also like gravel. When I changed my tank from gravel to sand I did not leave my filter or powershead off for very long at all. Maybe for an hour so I could fill the tank. How long it takes the sand to settle will depend greatly on what kinda sand you use and the grain size of the sand. I use Pool Filter Sand. It was a heavier sand and barely even clouded the water when I added it. I can also clean the sand with my python without sucking a lot out.

As far as gravel catching debris it will defiantly do that but you should not have an issue with a build up waste if you are vacuuming the gravel out on regular basis.
 
Sand looks great just rake it every week to get the gas bubbles out i have had mine for 4 years with 2 fx5s i never turn my filters off unless i clean them out and they always have heaps of sand in them (oscar spits sand straight into the siphons) and they both are still running perfectly.

I got 25 kg of sand yesterday for my 65 gallon red devil tank its a beige color and looks great not sure how the eheim 2217 will go but i know for sure my fx5s have never had a problem.
 
As mentioned before sand but like was stated find some pool filter sand. I think for the most part it is more natural except for stream and river fish also egg scattering fish will do better with a little larger gravel. That only matters though if trying to breed them egg scatters that is.
 
I use gravel but sand is probably the more attractive.
 
thanks for the replies and advice everyone, i was just going to run to home hardware or rona too pick up some pool filter sand for my 110 gallon:) i heard its alot cheaper at the hardware stores compared too the small quantities and expensive prices at the local pet stores. thanks again. i will post some pictures when its all done and fish are in:)
 
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