Changing From Gravel To Sand..... :)

[Gilli]

What other fish do you have besides the BN pleco?

Red rainbow fish, Boeseman rainbow fish, Blue neon rainbowfish, Corys, khulis, kribs, 3 spot gouramis, red tailed shark, penguin tetras, cherry barbs. changing the substrate mainly for the corys and khulis . Had my corys for 4 years with no problems but just purchased some khulis so with more sand loving fish have decided the change is worth the effort now

 

[eaglesaquarium]

It is. Go for it!

 

[Gilli]

So what about the live plants? Do I just plant them into the sand and if so how do they stay put? At the moment its easy as the weight of the gravel keeps them in place?

been reading up and found this.....
Sand must be used with caution as a planted aquarium substrate. It is very attractive, but has many downsides. First, it tends to compact, making it very difficult for roots to grow into it. Secondly, this compacting can lead to reduced circulation and pockets of anaerobic (not requiring oxygen) bacteria thriving, creating toxic gas bubbles. To prevent this, it's best to either layer one of the other planted aquarium substrates underneath the sand or use a very large grain sand. Overall, sand is best reserved for an accent area, creating a sandy beach effect, and is not ideal for growing plants.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I started my first tank with the planting substrate (flourite) under the sand. The sand is sifting through the planting medium now and the planting medium is coming more up to the surface.


I just started another tank with ALL sand, as I don't like the look of the substrates mixing.

Planting directly into the substrate is easy to do - easier, in fact with some plants than gravel... Dwarf hairgrass is tricky with gravel, but with sand, I just dug a trench, placed the hairgrass in place, and gently dropped some sand over the top to get sand into the middle of the hairgrass... It now looks like its been there forever, but its only been a few weeks (2, I think).

The nutrients aren't a concern, as many plants (if not all) draw the nutrients from the water column, which is why most fertilizers are available in liquid form. You could add root tabs, if you choose.


I'd stick to a fairly thin layer of sand... I only went 2 inches deep on my new tank, so the compacting issue is less of a concern. I also have fish (cories) that will move around the substrate... and I've had no issue with the roots not being able to push through the sand. My amazon swords had nice long roots in the all sand side of my first tank, when I pulled them to replant in my newest tank. Using large grain sand makes sense... and will be easier to wash as well. Personally, I used play sand, which is a mix of sizes, I believe.

 

[MrsM]

Anubias, java fern, amazon swords, most cryptocorynes should all do nicely. I have them in a low tech, no ferts, low light set-up. They are doing fantastically.

thanks, very helpful!

my plant..which i do not know its name, is still doing well in an all sand aquarium..corys all seem happier, bulldozing and sifting through the sand i deffo made the right move

 

[eaglesaquarium]

They are good like that. Watch the cories closely, and you'll see them sifting the sand through their gills. Pretty cool.

 

[MrsM]

well i suffered a mini cycle, lost a few fish on the way but im back, tank is cycled again and im building up the inmate list as i go, also rehomed a krib! man she was evil...actually bullied a cory to death!!!!
 
now facing whitespot head on... decided to get a couple of guppy who brought it with them...nice...thanks girls!

 

[eaglesaquarium]

That's why I would never keep an African cichlid with non-African fish - even a Krib.  They are capable of being too rough.  Some individuals aren't, but the risk isn't worth it, in my opinion.
 
 
 
Bolivian rams are far safer if you want to go with a cichlid with cories.

 

[MrsM]

im sticking with guppy n rummynose.. i prefer a peaceful tank .. may get a molly or two when the whitespot is gone...