What is easier to clean? My tank is 6 ft long x 15 in wide. I have gravel currently and I am debating switching over to PFS while the tank has no fish. Is PFS easier to clean during water changes than gravel is? thanks!
Sand vs Gravel -- Maintenance
- Thread starter Wesley M
- Start date
I like gravel for cleaning easier for me to gravel vac
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Never tried PFS, but i found gravel harder to clean in between compared to sand, since most the poops etc, just sits on top of the sand substrate...
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I have had both pfs and gravel. After switching to pfs I will never use gravel again. I have cut my water change time in half. Pfs rules.
Pool filter sand. Cuts down on cleaning time significantly. I have a 6' long tank and I can can syphon 50% of the water volume & have it refilled in less than an hour.
Food/waste just sit on top of the sand instead of breaking down and falling in between the crevices (like with gravel). So since my cichlids are constantly pushing & moving the sand, all that crap gets pulled into my filter. My water stays clearer, cleaner, and my algae growth is nearly none existent.
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Food/waste just sit on top of the sand instead of breaking down and falling in between the crevices (like with gravel). So since my cichlids are constantly pushing & moving the sand, all that crap gets pulled into my filter. My water stays clearer, cleaner, and my algae growth is nearly none existent.
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Another con of sand I hear about is aenarobic activities that produces strong odor due to areas that is left undisturbed for a long period of time. In my 75gal, I have an area that the is heavily "planted" with plastic plants which have never be disturbed/sifted for over a year and a half, and so far no smell. Just something to keep in mind. This tank has about 3" of sand, but in my new 180, I think I'm just gonna have about an inch which would make it easier for me (and my fish) to move it around thoroughly from top to bottom. Like Hamster, I'll never go back to gravel either.
I don't even vacuum my sand, I have a couple wavemaker aimed just right so the current keeps any waste from settling.
pfs is great, and I use it ...but a VERY thin BIT (1") OF GRAVEL IS REALLY easy to maintain , looks ok, and wont screw up your hob's to the point of being so noisy they drive you crazy,,,,,, most WILL agree I think that pfs is best , if filters aren't an issue (use pre filter sponges),,,, but gravel , in a thin layer is safer for hob's, and with PROPER CIRCULATION ,, real easy to clean as well,,, hope this helps