Confused About Sand Vs. Gravel

[fishguy2727]

I post it because it has happened and people should be aware of it when choosing to use sand and the type. Just because it hasn't happened to people on here doesn't mean it hasn't happened to other people. Knowledge is power, trying to stop the the sharing or information helps no one.

Sands that are not made for aquarium use are not nearly as uniform in size and the size is smaller than ideal. This can contribute to the problems cite with sand when it is really the type of sand.

 

[Tizer]

i dont disagree it hasnt happened, but we know little to nothing about the circumstances of the event. maybe the tank was 10 years old, maybe the substrate was 12 inches deep and have never been touched. Fact is, for this to happen in a basic home aquarium, which lets face it, are pretty small and have very thin substrates the chances of it happening are slim to none. I read several forums out there including this one and i cant recall once of such an event happening. So quite frankly its all just tosh.

I'll probably go home now and find all my fish dead caused by a pocket of natural gas escaping from my play sand substrate which not only poisoned the fish but blew up when it contacted the air and took my house out...

 

[Geoff-]

I'll probably go home now and find all my fish dead caused by a pocket of natural gas escaping from my play sand substrate which not only poisoned the fish but blew up when it contacted the air and took my house out...

It could happen!

Gravel is so last year.

this man speaks the truth. sand >>> gravel

I've seen gas pockets in my sand, but I've not smelled sulfur when moving plants and releasing bubbles. Maybe the anaerobic bacteria are *gasp* turning nitrates into nitrogen gas like they're supposed to!!

Probably also jinxed myself and will have massive fish death overnight

 

[Proxo]

Putting sand into an empty tank is more fun too, you can build sand castles

 

[fishguy2727]

That can definitely happen to. Sand can allow for denitrification.

I had the hydrogen sulfide (rotten eggs smell) in a tank once when I used driftwood that had a slate base on it. The slate blocked the sand under it from getting enough oxygen. It had not gotten too bad by the time I found it so no major issues other than the smell, but I can definitely see how that left untouched for months and then disturbed could have been much worse.