whats the best substrate

[parrot puff]

in my tanks at the moment i have white stones/gravel and have seen many tanks with sand set up in them and looks the nuts but have been advised not put the aquatic sand in the tank as they say it can harbour parasites in it as they say u cant clean the bottom proply or do u think this is complete rubbish as wondering if plants would grow proply

 

[smpage]

Sand is the only thing I'll use in my tanks.

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

this is complete rubbish

^ What you already said =)

 

[Stingraynut_Seattle]

sand is fine; my 135 has white sand with live plants; it takes a while for the root systems to grab enough sand for traction but once they do your fine; I have a couple of juraparis that keep the sand stirred up as well;

 

[gangster]

i like no substrate....but sand looks great when set up right....black sand w/ live plants really pops.

 

[parrot puff]

cheers for your replys but what about the bacteria in the sand i was told u cant clean it proply

 

[sostoudt]

cheers for your replys but what about the bacteria in the sand i was told u cant clean it proply

you want bacteria in the sand it filters the water.

its true most sand you cant gravel vac, but most sand doesnt doesnt have alot of empty space to collect fish waste like gravel.

gravel will always be dirtier then sand.


the main disadvantage of sand is you must stir it up every couple weeks, or it may go anaerobic and make some nasty chemicals. other then that sand is perfectly fine to use.

you dont have to be worried about parasite or bad bacteria unless you are taking sand from the wild, which i would advise against.

 

[siebertn]

I have had sand in all my tanks for ever and i have never had any problems just do you gravel vacs.

 

[jcardona1]

sand. the end.

if im gonna go with a substrate, it will be sand. gravel is too messy. and i never stir up my sand