sand or soil

[aidenboyjon]

So I am considering using sand because I personally like the look of it. It also would be wise to use soft micro sub for polypterus because of how they eat, it'll pass through easy and for my black ghosts so they can bump against it without cutting themselves.
My primary concern is the warnings I see of anaerobic spots. I would obviously sift the saft when cleaning but The warnings I see make it sound like that doesn't really work. There will be some plants to allow the ghosts and polys to feel safe, and give the tank a natural feel. I am not looking nor do I care for an artistic look, only natural. The plants are undemanding plants that wont require nutrients or co2 like java fern/moss, amazon sword, etc.
I am just really worried about this anaerobic warning. What are your thoughts/experiences/recommendations? Reminder, I live in Japan so any recommendations will need details for me to be able to find them.
The tank is 50gal with a power box sv900x external filter by kotobuki

 

[Rtc/tsn]

So I am considering using sand because I personally like the look of it. It also would be wise to use soft micro sub for polypterus because of how they eat, it'll pass through easy and for my black ghosts so they can bump against it without cutting themselves.
My primary concern is the warnings I see of anaerobic spots. I would obviously sift the saft when cleaning but The warnings I see make it sound like that doesn't really work. There will be some plants to allow the ghosts and polys to feel safe, and give the tank a natural feel. I am not looking nor do I care for an artistic look, only natural. The plants are undemanding plants that wont require nutrients or co2 like java fern/moss, amazon sword, etc.
I am just really worried about this anaerobic warning. What are your thoughts/experiences/recommendations? Reminder, I live in Japan so any recommendations will need details for me to be able to find them.

What size tank

 

[Rtc/tsn]

So I am considering using sand because I personally like the look of it. It also would be wise to use soft micro sub for polypterus because of how they eat, it'll pass through easy and for my black ghosts so they can bump against it without cutting themselves.
My primary concern is the warnings I see of anaerobic spots. I would obviously sift the saft when cleaning but The warnings I see make it sound like that doesn't really work. There will be some plants to allow the ghosts and polys to feel safe, and give the tank a natural feel. I am not looking nor do I care for an artistic look, only natural. The plants are undemanding plants that wont require nutrients or co2 like java fern/moss, amazon sword, etc.
I am just really worried about this anaerobic warning. What are your thoughts/experiences/recommendations? Reminder, I live in Japan so any recommendations will need details for me to be able to find them.

Or I’ve seen people layer soil then on top of that sand for better looks

 

[aidenboyjon]

Or I’ve seen people layer soil then on top of that sand for better looks

Sorry, 50gal

 

[phreeflow]

I’ve read about it online and it seems to make sense but I’ve never had an issue with it personally and I’ve never met a real person that ever lost fish due to a gas bubble being released from the substrate. That experience seems to seems to live on the internet. If you’re worried, don’t do a deep sand layer and keep a fish that will also sift the sand regularly like a geophagus. If you’ve ever seen a pond, there are tons of gas bubbles being released by the rich organic substrate but those habitats are also teeming with life so....

Hopefully others will respond

 

[aidenboyjon]

I’ve read about it online and it seems to make sense but I’ve never had an issue with it personally and I’ve never met a real person that ever lost fish due to a gas bubble being released from the substrate. That experience seems to seems to live on the internet. If you’re worried, don’t do a deep sand layer and keep a fish that will also sift the sand regularly like a geophagus. If you’ve ever seen a pond, there are tons of gas bubbles being released by the rich organic substrate but those habitats are also teeming with life so....

Hopefully others will respond

This makes sense. I just want to avoid amonia burn as much as possible. the possibility of having bacteria that reverse the cycling process would just suck.

 

[Rocksor]

Use a larger grain sand, like #20 mesh size sand. Using fine grain sand that is mesh size #80 or higher (eg. play sand) is what leads to anaerobic pockets. I had no issues with swords growing in mesh size #20 sand.

 

[fishguy1978]

I have sand in my 220g that is several inches deep as I intended to plant the tank but the silver dollars kept that from happening. My 100g multi tank has sand as well but the multies are little bulldozers constantly moving sand. My 60g and 55g both have a deep substrate and are planted. I have had no issues with these 4 tanks with gas bubbles.
I maintenance a 65g for a friend at his house and he recently lost multiple fish. He is unable to remove dead due to his physical condition. I was not aware until a day or so before I went over that this had occurred. The tank runs an HOB and an undergravel with the HOB drawing from the plates up lift tube. The gas build up in the gravel was such that the HOB sounded like is was sucking air. When the HOB was turned off much of the gas discharged from the gravel into the water column. The gravel in this tank is 5-8mm size. The tank is over stocked and overfed and I am only able to get over there about once a month for 90% water changes.
First 2 pictures are from the recent visit, others are a month ago.