Sand vs. Gravel for Natives.

[Moontanman]

I use sand in all my native set ups, lots of fish require sand to remain healthy, they eat it and blow it through their gills. Eating it seems to be very important to some suckers and minnows IMHO. I generally use black sand like Tahitian moon sand but just regular play sand will work well too. Pool filter sand is usually fairly clean. I use a sponge pre filter over my power filter intakes.

 

[Dreamsing]

I've had amazing luck with pool filter sand. It's rounded on the edges so it doesn't cut my fish's gills, and it keeps a nice bright appearance.

In the end it's best to go with whatever environment your fish prefer. I keep the sand because I have catfish that like to sift through it looking for "tasty" stuff. Keeps them happy and makes the tank seem more natural.

 

[usafyellow]

I use sand in all my native set ups, lots of fish require sand to remain healthy, they eat it and blow it through their gills. Eating it seems to be very important to some suckers and minnows IMHO. I generally use black sand like Tahitian moon sand but just regular play sand will work well too. Pool filter sand is usually fairly clean. I use a sponge pre filter over my power filter intakes.

Thanks for the tips. I can see where it will help them remain healthy, it's a lot easier to sift through for food than gravel. I will get a sponge to put over my power filter intake.

I've had amazing luck with pool filter sand. It's rounded on the edges so it doesn't cut my fish's gills, and it keeps a nice bright appearance.

In the end it's best to go with whatever environment your fish prefer. I keep the sand because I have catfish that like to sift through it looking for "tasty" stuff. Keeps them happy and makes the tank seem more natural.

Yesterday I seen my catfish scrambling around the tank, he kept rubbing his side on the glass, then he spit out 2 pieces of gravel. After that he was fine. He's just in this tank until I get my new native set up this weekend. I will be using sand thanks to everyone's responses.

 

[FLESHY]

Fine sand will get into your filters and ruin your impeller, it will also compact with waste and be nasty after awhile.

Sand is also harder to clean.

Unless you have the time to turn all your filters off once a week, and manually mix the whole thing up with your hands and suck out all the crap I would just go with gravel.

 

[wcgunns]

Take a look at my Good read for native fish keepers thread.

 

[usafyellow]

Take a look at my Good read for native fish keepers thread.

Thank you, I'm reading it now.