gravel

aunkster

ok keep in mind im new ,,but can a natural type gravel be purchased at some garden stores cheaper that pet shops and if so are there certain types?

Thanks

Thoth

In the past, I have used small pea gravel from lowes in an aquarium with no problem. It can be cheaper depending on what the gravel is marketed for and where you purchase it. Just make sure you clean it well before you put it in your tank.

I stopped using 100% gravel in tanks. Personally, I think an all sand or mostly sand substrates looks better and is better for the health of cory cats and loaches.

GwenInNM

I've never checked garden stores, but you could. I doubt it would be much cheaper than a pet store. Online is where you can get best prices, but unless you can come up with other stuff to order (so easy to do) than shipping costs may not off set the savings. You need to rinse gravel well, no matter where you get it.

Pea size gravel is best IMO. I've come to learn all of fish keeping is expensive - gravel is probably the least of the expense, unless I guess you're buying enough for a 100 gal tank.

Gwen

Christople

Shipping for gravel isn't too much. It won't die or any thing either.

Byron

I have used gravel bought in bulk from landscaping/stone places. If you can find what you need, it will be a real savings in money. But, make sure it is useable.

Some gravels are made from calcareous rock and will raise water hardness and corresponding pH. This is no problem if you intend keeping only hard water fish (livebearers, rift lake cichlids, some other fish) but not in a tank of soft water fish. Inert gravel, meaning it will not affect water chemistry, is what you ideally want in most cases.

The gravel size should be small, "pea gravel" is about the largest you want to use; anything larger will trap food too easily and cause other problems. Small-grain gravel (1-2 mm grain size) is best with plants. Some fish need small gravel, some work well with pea gravel; depends what fish you have in the tank.

I used the pea gravel last year in a 70g tank, and a couple weeks ago I pulled it out. The plants did not do well in it, and the loaches didn't seem to be happy. All are now in another tank with 1-2 mm gravel and much happier.

Byron.