Which Sub?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

Which substrate do you prefer? (you can choose more than one option)

  • Fine Sand

    Votes: 28 53.8%
  • Small Gravel

    Votes: 17 32.7%
  • Large Gravel/Pebbles

    Votes: 2 3.8%
  • Bare Bottom

    Votes: 5 9.6%

  • Total voters
    52
A sponge over the intake tube prevents sand from mucking up the filter-Anne
 
I love the look of sand, but hated the maintenance of it. Everytime I cleaned it, 10 mins later it looked dirty again. Just too easy to see the ****. Plus it made my filter loud as hell.

I don't use small gravel because some people have had bichirs eat it and die from it.
 
bare bottom tanks r 4 ticks n leaches.
 
they used to be in fine sand but are now in small gravel so i put gravel
to be honest i never really see them on the bottom anyway. they are usually shoved into the floating plants :D
 
I have natural-colored gravel in my tank and I like it. I thought about sand, but I've heard too many stories and decided to go on the safe side... this time...
Oh, BIGgourami, I love your avatar!
 
I used to use gravel, but man it's a pain in the ass to clean. Yeah, the feces shows up less, but that's because it's building up in the gravel bed making your DOC's get higher, and no matter how much I gravel vac, it still has more in it.

If you're careful with how you setup a tank with stand i.e. spong over intakes, shallow sand bed, and plenty of water movement, you can keep it very clean and out of your filters.

Bare bottom is gorgeous, but it's best to paint it.
 
Sand for me. I was very skeptical about it at first, mostly cuz I figured it would be a nightmare to clean/keep clean. The 75 gal tank I bought came with a sand/gravel mix, and I sat there for 4 hours with a pasta strainer getting rid of all the gravel and keeping the sand.

I think its easier in some ways to keep clean, all the polys poo just sits on top, and I use my Python about a 1/4 to 1/2 inch above it, and it pulls it right out. Then, I turn the suction off and stir up all the sand, and start pulling out more water. *I have black sand, so the poo doesn't show at all*

I haven't had issues with sand destroying the filter. I got a Rena XP3 from the person I bought my tank from, and cleaned it out, and yeah, there was sand in the filter, however, so far there hasn't been any issues with that. I just clean the filter once a month to remove the sand LOL
 
Hello,

i'm using gravel ... so the planting do not rot (as it would do when using sand).

I do not have any problems with dirt - i'm using good filters and the planting helps to keep the tanks clean (biological processes). There is no problem when changing water (1/2 all 8 weeks) and making a general cleaning of the ground ... as i have said: rare dirt.
There are many pictures of my fish where one can also see the situation of the ground and the tanks overall ... i think this shows that this way works good for my fish and me.
And ... no loss of any fish from eating gravel!!!

Greetings

Uwe
 
I keep my polys in tanks with sand.

If you using an sponge like a glove over the filter basket or you tinker yourself a mold for your inside-filter than there are no problems with sand and the engine of the filter.

With a good watermovement no mud will go in the sand, cuse the surface moving slowly.

My plants I keep in raw-fired pots with gravel and brickearth as a long term fertilizer.

But with a pure white sand and the wrong light your plys will get sick
 
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