Sand V Gravel the great debate

[beblondie]

If done correctly they are none and in fact the old time tank had slate bottoms.My first tank had a slate bottom.The hardest part of using slate tile will be getting a proper fit around the perimetet of the tank do to the silicone holding the glass
now if you have acess to a wet saw have at just cut and fit the tiles.I had a wet saw but it got lost during a move -Anne

 

[geno]

If done correctly they are none and in fact the old time tank had slate bottoms.My first tank had a slate bottom.The hardest part of using slate tile will be getting a proper fit around the perimetet of the tank do to the silicone holding the glass
now if you have acess to a wet saw have at just cut and fit the tiles.I had a wet saw but it got lost during a move -Anne

Thanks Anne, I'm looking for slate tiles now haha. Is it ok if I use a combi of sand and tiles? As in maybe the tiles are not large enough to fit nicely, can I fill in the excess gap with sand?

Also, as a sidenote, is it ok if I sterilise tank stuff using antiseptic solution before adding them into the tank? I'm thinking that the antiseptic, if not washed off properly, would end up killing all the good bacteria in the tank. What do you think?

Thanks for the advice =)

 

[beblondie]

should be fine as for sterilizing just use simply rubbing alcohol -Anne

 

[geno]

Thanks Anne!! Will update once I get it done. Have some nice marble tiles at home maybe I shall give my ornate some star treatment wahaha =)

 

[beblondie]

no no no marble dissolves NO NO NO

 

[geno]

no no no marble dissolves NO NO NO

OHH haha okok thanks for the warning!! =)

 

[geno]

Hey Anne, just a quick check, won't food particles or poop etc get caught in the gaps between tiles? Even if you fit them together as nicely as possible?

 

[Armored_delhezi]

SAND is always the best! but i used to have gravel in my tanks... coz i seemed to find it difficult to find shops who sells good sand on our place... ()

 

[geno]

SAND is always the best! but i used to have gravel in my tanks... coz i seemed to find it difficult to find shops who sells good sand on our place... ()

Yeah!! I'm using black sand now. I think it makes the colour of the ornate much "richer", in the sense of contrast haha =) but alot of food particles end up getting caught on the sand!! Vacuuming doesnt help =( Armoured_delhezi, how do you manage to keep your sand clean of food particles?

 

[dingoofus]

I think it depends on the looks you are going for,sometimes gravel looks more natural than sand, and vice versa. If I was to have a salt water tank, sand would be a definate.