Sand V Gravel the great debate

[beblondie]

I probably should have posted this with or before the poll ooops

Gravel
Pros:
Easier to prep before adding to the tank
easier to vacuum during water changes
comes in a variety of color(many ofwhich are epoxy coatings and flake off over time
less possibility of anorexic bacterial build up(smells like sulphur)
can be man made of refracted mineral inhanced clays(flourite) for plants

Cons:
Can be ingested possibly causing internal blockages
Food/debris can get trapped between pieces increasing risk of ingestion
Can have sharp edges(tahitian moon sand)
Live plants become easily uprooted
Not necessarily bichir friendy for burrowing
Sand

Pros:
Debris rests on top of sand for easy cleaning
easier for bichirs to bury themselves under
Easier for polypterids to find food
easier to pass thru the digestive tract if ingested
More natural looking

Cons:
Can compact and trap dangerous toxins if too deep
Can create temporary cloudiness when first added
Can dammage your filters if fine particles are drawn into them
Easliy disturbed creating temporary cloudiness
Somewhat difficult to clean
Barebottom

Pros:
There is no real prep unless you paint the bottom
Vacuuming is easier
Debris is clearly visibal
food is easily found
removes the possibility of ingesting anything but food

Cons:
looks unatural
You can't have live plants
bichirs can't burrow into anything to hunt or hide
some bichirs react negativly to bare bottom tanks
tends to reflect light back into the tank making it brighter
There are 3 choices with 5 pros and 5 cons each.You can decide which you prefer-Anne

 

[King-eL]

Sand are always the best!

 

[Slippery]

I think for what most people keep on here then Sand.
My only problem with it is Yes...It's easily cleaned but you can always see it.
Cleaning it everyday then can upset the fish especially new arrivals.
If you don't it looks messy all the time on top of the sand.

Bare bottom looks like more of a prison than some sort of natural enviroment.

Gravel....If it's for your middle to upper swimmers great but bottom dwellers which most monsters are can possibly cut them causing infections.

My choice is sand and no more than an Inch deep

 

[japes]

Cons:
a) Can compact and trap dangerous toxins if too deep
b) Can create temporary cloudiness when first added
c) Can dammage your filters if fine particles are drawn into them
d) Easliy disturbed creating temporary cloudiness
e) Somewhat difficult to clean

From my experience with sand.

a) Incredibly difficult for this to happen and be toxic, the sand has to be quite deep which shouldn't happen, and during water changes a quick stir up will completely prevent this from happening.

b) True with some sands. Pool Filter Sand is generally very clean and will not cloud the tank.

c) Only the very fine sands will such as Play Sand will get sucked into filters, and only when it's first added. Heavy mechanical filtration in your canisters will prevent this from occurring and speed up the settlement process as well. If your filters sucking up sand you need to adjust the intake.

d) Even dirty sand like play sand causes no temporary clouding when stirred up.

e) Everyone who keeps sand gets used to it very quickly - debris is easily vacuumed off the surface and you'll learn quickly to be careful with the vac. Some (or most?) sands like Pool Filter Sand will be heavy enough to not get vacuumed up anyway (unless you're trying to), so you can go nuts and it won't make a difference.

 

[CTU2fan]

Agreed with all of this, I use pool filter sand and my fx5 never sucks any up, and the intake is only about 3" or so above the sand. I do get some sand grains floating around so it could be a bit clearer, but otherwise no problems...and it's very easy to vac the fish poo off the sand surface.

My next project will probably be sand with some gravel/pebbles mixed in, I think that will look more natural.

 

[Cohazard]

My next project will probably be sand with some gravel/pebbles mixed in, I think that will look more natural.

I love that look and would try it if I could find 3m tan color

 

[smpage]

From my experience with sand.

a) Incredibly difficult for this to happen and be toxic, the sand has to be quite deep which shouldn't happen, and during water changes a quick stir up will completely prevent this from happening.

b) True with some sands. Pool Filter Sand is generally very clean and will not cloud the tank.

c) Only the very fine sands will such as Play Sand will get sucked into filters, and only when it's first added. Heavy mechanical filtration in your canisters will prevent this from occurring and speed up the settlement process as well. If your filters sucking up sand you need to adjust the intake.

d) Even dirty sand like play sand causes no temporary clouding when stirred up.

e) Everyone who keeps sand gets used to it very quickly - debris is easily vacuumed off the surface and you'll learn quickly to be careful with the vac. Some (or most?) sands like Pool Filter Sand will be heavy enough to not get vacuumed up anyway (unless you're trying to), so you can go nuts and it won't make a difference.

I agree, Sand only has cons due to user error. If you have anaerobic pockets then you're doing something very wrong. If you have deep sand, stir it. I personally use MTS and they're the best thing to ever happen to sand tanks. As far as sand being dirty, clean it. Some are dirtier than others but you need to do your part to make it work for your tank. Just like anything else having to do with fish tanks, it needs some prep before it can just be thrown in.

 

[smpage]

In other words, there is no debate at all. I would never risk losing my polys to gravel.

 

[tdkee1]

My buddy just lost his 24'' Silver Arowana. His Arowana didn't eat for 2 months. It finally died so he inspected it. He found a small piece of gravel stuck under it's gill. The gill was very infected with a yellow puss. This is what might happen if you choose gravel. I have ever since used only sand. Much safer and a lot easier to clean. My fish seem more comfortable. It's like a pillow.

 

[Juxtaroberto]

I probably should have posted this with or before the poll ooops

Gravel
Pros:
Easier to prep before adding to the tank
easier to vacuum during water changes
comes in a variety of color(many ofwhich are epoxy coatings and flake off over time
less possibility of anorexic bacterial build up(smells like sulphur)
can be man made of refracted mineral inhanced clays(flourite) for plants

Cons:
Can be ingested possibly causing internal blockages
Food/debris can get trapped between pieces increasing risk of ingestion
Can have sharp edges(tahitian moon sand)
Live plants become easily uprooted
Not necessarily bichir friendy for burrowing
Sand

Pros:
Debris rests on top of sand for easy cleaning
easier for bichirs to bury themselves under
Easier for polypterids to find food
easier to pass thru the digestive tract if ingested
More natural looking

Cons:
Can compact and trap dangerous toxins if too deep
Can create temporary cloudiness when first added
Can dammage your filters if fine particles are drawn into them
Easliy disturbed creating temporary cloudiness
Somewhat difficult to clean
Barebottom

Pros:
There is no real prep unless you paint the bottom
Vacuuming is easier
Debris is clearly visibal
food is easily found
removes the possibility of ingesting anything but food

Cons:
looks unatural
You can't have live plants
bichirs can't burrow into anything to hunt or hide
some bichirs react negativly to bare bottom tanks
tends to reflect light back into the tank making it brighter
There are 3 choices with 5 pros and 5 cons each.You can decide which you prefer-Anne

LOL!!!

Did you mean "anaerobic"? I don't think bacteria understand the notion of starving themselves so they can be all thin and pretty.