Sand vs. Gravel for Natives.

[usafyellow]

I'm just curious what people prefer to use in their native setups. I have always thought of sand for saltwater setups but now I'm seeing native tanks with sand.
I'd like to hear your thoughts on which you prefer and why, and also how you clean sand if you can't use a gravel vacuum.
Also if you have pics that would be cool as well.

 

[Hoyo12]

I used a combination of both for my native tank, just based on the substrate at the local pond, lol. Looks nice though.

 

[usafyellow]

I used a combination of both for my native tank, just based on the substrate at the local pond, lol. Looks nice though.

That is a nice set up, and a huge pumpkinseed.
The fish I'll be putting in my tank are from a creek, full of large rocks. I will have some large rocks in there from the creek but not sure about the substrate.

 

[DREAM-faw]

I'll go with sand with a native set up and add some gravel too

 

[ShadowBass]

I have gravel in my current one, but I also like sand. As far as no gravel vac, sand would be easier if you have mechanical filtration because the fish will stir it up a lot and the detritus will be sucked into the filter to be physically taken out. Also with sand, a lot of stuff rests on the surface rather than falling down in it so you can just suck it off with a siphon tube.

One downside with sand though, is if you have a lot of sunfish they will sometimes pick sand up and spit it into your filter intakes just like a cichlid would, which will mess up the impeller.

 

[usafyellow]

I have gravel in my current one, but I also like sand. As far as no gravel vac, sand would be easier if you have mechanical filtration because the fish will stir it up a lot and the detritus will be sucked into the filter to be physically taken out. Also with sand, a lot of stuff rests on the surface rather than falling down in it so you can just suck it off with a siphon tube.

One downside with sand though, is if you have a lot of sunfish they will sometimes pick sand up and spit it into your filter intakes just like a cichlid would, which will mess up the impeller.

That's interesting. if their stiring it up a lot will that also get into the filter or does the sand sink fairly quickly.
So I'm assuming since you said that the stuff rests on the surface that you don't really have to actually clean the sand, maybe stir it occasionally?
That would be interesting to see them actually spit it into the intake, reminds me of finding Nemo when they put a rock in the filter to plan an escape.

 

[KEAS]

I just recently started running sand in a 100 gal tank about 7 months ago and it was good the fish were able to move it around alot and and make the tank more how they want it, however i decided to add some black florite one day to help with some plants and had great results. so i believe a heavy sand and lite gravel mix worked best for my fish. I got a few catfish and a few oscars with convicts as a clean up crew.

 

[usafyellow]

I just recently started running sand in a 100 gal tank about 7 months ago and it was good the fish were able to move it around alot and and make the tank more how they want it, however i decided to add some black florite one day to help with some plants and had great results. so i believe a heavy sand and lite gravel mix worked best for my fish. I got a few catfish and a few oscars with convicts as a clean up crew.

Do you have any pictures, I'd like to see your setup.

 

[Racersk]

Valid points above...

Gravel vac will work, just don't plung it into the sand when your picking up the poo and your good, the poo sits on top of the sand, so it is easier to see...a good AND bad thing.

I am using silica sand ($7 for 100lbs at Home Depot) in my cold water/native tank. It has washed out the color of the fish inside due to the very lite substrate, but a black sand would look more natural, as one member suggested in another thread, use brown or back flourite as a base and it'll look way more natural, as most of our US natives live with a mud bottom.

Oh and none neither my sunfish, nor my bowfin kick up my sand, it's my monster plecos that do that when the dig! Silica sand doesn't stay suspended for long and I run a sump on this tank, so sand into the motor really hasn't been an issue.

 

[usafyellow]

Valid points above...

Gravel vac will work, just don't plung it into the sand when your picking up the poo and your good, the poo sits on top of the sand, so it is easier to see...a good AND bad thing.

I am using silica sand ($7 for 100lbs at Home Depot) in my cold water/native tank. It has washed out the color of the fish inside due to the very lite substrate, but a black sand would look more natural, as one member suggested in another thread, use brown or back flourite as a base and it'll look way more natural, as most of our US natives live with a mud bottom.

Oh and none neither my sunfish, nor my bowfin kick up my sand, it's my monster plecos that do that when the dig! Silica sand doesn't stay suspended for long and I run a sump on this tank, so sand into the motor really hasn't been an issue.

Thank you for the advice. I was thinking of a lighter color because it might look nicer, now I think I'll go with the darker brown to stay more natural and keep the color in my fish.
I seen that home depot had sand cheap and was wandering if that sand would be OK to use. Now I know.