Sand

[jpjn]

This is a very informative link about using Sand as your substrate. You'll read about the toxic gases it can produce right here: http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=131373

The very first sand that I had used, years ago, well, I hadn't heard about the gases. I made it deep with little hills here and there. Well, one day as I was feeding my fish I smelled something so awful. It smelled like a rotten egg. Like SULFUR. It was my sand! I quickly removed more then half of it and did a water change. whodathunk sand could cause this? That was play sand.

 

[smpage]

so it seems that a necessity for a sand aquarium are those MTS I keep hearing so much about. Of course the gases are something to worry about but it doesn't seem difficult at all to avoid them.

 

[smpage]

so does anyone here with a sand tank use something besides the MTS? this thread I found doesn't really have nice things to say about them. I personally don't want something in my tank that's just going to end up being a pest more than a help. http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66768

 

[jpjn]

so does anyone here with a sand tank use something besides the MTS? this thread I found doesn't really have nice things to say about them. I personally don't want something in my tank that's just going to end up being a pest more than a help. http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66768

I loath mts!!!! I had a HUGE problem with them way back when I decided I wanted a planted angelfish tank. They took over, got into my filters, my undergravel filter, and were all over the glass. I hate them. Besides that, all they do is reproduce, eat, and poop. Who needs that?
I totally tore down my tank and boiled what I could, and scrubbed everything because their eggs stick to everything.

I love pleco's, and Eartheaters, and both keep the sand clean and move it around alot. But really you don't need anything if you keep the sand very shallow.