What kind of gravel or sand do you prefer for the bottom of your tanks?? What size? I've used REALLY small gravel in the past and enjoyed it but feel like it's harder to keep clean.
What is your preferred type of gravel?
- Thread starter Polyptasaurus
- Start date
It may depend on the fish you keep.
If you keep fish that come from flowing streams, larger size gravel may be best.
If you keep Geophagines, sand might be best, because they sift constantly.
If you keep African rift lake species, large rocks for some, sand for others.
If you keep Amazonian species, some spend half the year in flooded forest.
Below is a photo of Geophagine habitat.
below a video of a natural habitat in a Cenote in Mexico
Azul imovie edit
If you keep fish that come from flowing streams, larger size gravel may be best.
If you keep Geophagines, sand might be best, because they sift constantly.
If you keep African rift lake species, large rocks for some, sand for others.
If you keep Amazonian species, some spend half the year in flooded forest.
Below is a photo of Geophagine habitat.
below a video of a natural habitat in a Cenote in Mexico
Azul imovie edit
With large cichlids, I like Pool filter sand, with some pea gravel mixed in to make the substrate look natural.
Sand also keeps detritus on top, and visible so making it easier to vacuum out.
Some people might like it "out of sight, out of mind" or stored in filters, I want it out of the water column all together, because it is the perfect medium for non-beneficial bacteria to grow in, and breaks down in nitrate.
Below, a substrate shot from the bottom of the Magdalena river system in Colombia.
Sand also keeps detritus on top, and visible so making it easier to vacuum out.
Some people might like it "out of sight, out of mind" or stored in filters, I want it out of the water column all together, because it is the perfect medium for non-beneficial bacteria to grow in, and breaks down in nitrate.
Below, a substrate shot from the bottom of the Magdalena river system in Colombia.
None.. Bare bottomed painted undersides are my new favorite substrate.......
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Ole...Textured-Finish-Spray-Paint-7994830/202056399
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Ole...Textured-Finish-Spray-Paint-7994830/202056399
I prefer the look of darkish river gravel of consistent size (10-15mm range), with some larger pebbles to rocks scattered throughout. However the corys in my last tank wore away their barbels with this substrate. So a few weeks ago I replaced it with graded filter sand that I bought (I think it was spec'ed at 0.4 to 0.7mm), and threw in a few larger rock for interest. Its a bit lighter in colour than I usually like, and I haven't put any corys back in yet, but I have added some Geo brachybranchus and they seem to love it.
Whether sand or gravel, I think its important to use only a consistent size, to prevent compaction and maintain a degree of water movement through the substrate.
Whether sand or gravel, I think its important to use only a consistent size, to prevent compaction and maintain a degree of water movement through the substrate.