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Gravel or Sand????

4K views 14 replies 7 participants last post by  onefish2fish 
#1 ·
I have a 29 gallon tank for fresh water fish. I am useing gravel and sand. But would rather stick to one kind. My question is, Which do you perfer??

If i stick with gravel should i stick with natural color??
 
#2 ·
Sand

I prefer gravel, and I have black, but my grandmother had blue, so I don't think it really matter, but my fish are certainly happy. :D
 
#3 ·
I have three mollies. A male and female dalmation and a black female.
 
#4 ·
Hmmm gravel and sand? Hows that working out for you? Like you mean.. Mixed together?

Personally I LOVE sand, it looks wonderful, some nice black sand!!! But sand also requires a little more care then gravel because you have to stir it up to avoid dead spots.

And gravel is just easy to clean, but I do like the more natural colours of gravel rather then the brightly coloured stuff.
 
#5 ·
It WAS working out pretty well. But the other day i did a water change and stired up the sand and gravel and now my nitrites and nitrates are off the wall.

It looked really nice. I had the white sand red and blue gravel. But i wanna just start over and stick with one kind.
 
#6 ·
in my 29 gallon i have gravel... but i LOVE the way sand looks. i think either would be good. if you get gravel i would stick to natural colors....i just think it looks better.
 
#7 ·
What fish do you have? If you have cories or loaches I would go with sand. Otherwise gravel is easier to vacuum. I like natural colored gravel.
 
#8 ·
sheena0709 said:
It WAS working out pretty well. But the other day i did a water change and stired up the sand and gravel and now my nitrites and nitrates are off the wall.

It looked really nice. I had the white sand red and blue gravel. But i wanna just start over and stick with one kind.
Really? I thought sand just falls through if you put it with gravel? Do you have more sand then gravel or something? Sounds like an interesting set up, do you have a picture?

You should really be vacuuming your gravel every time you do a water change. You probably sent the nitrites and nitrates off the charts because you have sooo much crap all stuck down there.

But I vote sand, unless your not down for the extra care, and then in that case natural coloured gravel!!!
 
#9 ·
I think i am up for all the care that sand needs. I do have a pic. I will have to look for it.

I didnt relieze i could use a vacuum with the sand until the other day when i asked the question here.

I do have a cory. He is retared but i thinks its becuase i dont have more of them.

I do have alot of fis and looking to get rid of some of them becuase i want to go to a guppie tank.
 
#11 ·
do you plan on having cories or loaches when you turn it into a guppy tank?
 
#12 ·
Yes, I plan on having a corie in the tank. i already have one in there now and goes crazy. He shoots up to the top of the tank and back down again. I think he would like the sand much better.

I did have a loach in my tank before and he got ICK all over him. I tried and tried to get rid of it and it never went away so i had to ummmm flush him.

I am gonna go ahead and turn it over to a sand bottom.
 
#13 ·
I have a sand substrate and I love it. It takes a little bit more work but I think its worth it. To stir the sand I use a long handled kitchen fork and churn it up after I vacuum. Takes about ten minutes extra on a 55 gallon.
 
#15 ·
redfishbluefish

i suggest going to home depot or lowes sometimes even walmart and buy a big bag (more depending on your tank size) of landscaping stones or sometimes called "pond stones" THEY ARE CHEAP! only a couple bucks a bag, for a large bag and look very natural. however when you get them home i suggest rinsing them well outside in a large bucket a few times to get the dirts and sands and particles out from the rocks to decrease tank clouding. i would NOT prefer colored rocks because i like a more natural look personally and they are most likely PAINTED! i cannot believe that would be good for a fish tank, period! but then again its all up to the tank owners preference of what they are going for. if you like the artificial look by all means dont let me stop you from getting that neon pink gravel or sand. i would suggest you think over the types of inhabints the tank is going to hold because this more importantly will more or less help determine what type of tank covering to use. for example clown loaches dont like larger rocks as there gravel because of their small whiskery mouths that get caught when digging in the gravel or if you want a live planted tank you may want to consider mixing a substrate in with your gravel to promote plant growth and health but that always can be done later on down the road..but more or less easier when your first setting up your tank. anyways i hope this is of some help.. happy fishing. :D
 
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