gravel and sand ? is it possible

[tribalsilver_shark]

Hi i was wondering im moving home soon around a month
and when i do its going to be the perfect time to setup my tank far the next few years

but what i was thinking is as im buying few rocks to build a cave and stuff is can i use gravel and sand
the reason i say this is i like the look of sand more but my bacteria is settled in my old gravel.so when i move can i remove half the gravel then put half back into the tank andthen place sand over the top of the gravel so i keep alot of bacteria in the gravel i had at the bottom

please let me know if this is possible thanks

 

[guppymonkey]

The only problem with sand is that pockets of anaerobic bacteria can form and if these are released into the water they are deadly. It really depends on how deep you want your substrate. Gravel has spaces for water to flow through so it is aerated, but it might compact the sand leaving no spaces in the sand for aeration?

 

[Lateral Line]

I use swimming pool filter sand. It doesn't pack down, and I've never had anaerobic problems with it. I used to use silver sand but that does compact.

If you want to switch to sand, and use your gravel, you could put the gravel in something, (old pair of gf/wifes tights, a sock, something), that would allow the bacteria to migrate and also allow the gravel to be removed later.

 

[KnuckleHead]

I highly recommend sand. To fight the anaerobic bacteria just sift the sand every cleaning. You could also use trumpet snails since they burrow. I have both sand and gravel in my tanks and never had a problem.

 

[tribalsilver_shark]

just to confirm i mean gravel at the bottom with sand covering it so ontop sand bottom gravel ? to keep some of my built up bacteria

 

[Ron]

Thats what I did...gravle of teh bottom, sand on top. I personally love sand as a subtrate, its more natural. I love natural things in my tanks!!
Ron

 

[tribalsilver_shark]

thanks ron totaly agree look cleaner i think using white sand maybe ill get it brighter

and ill just keep lil bit of gravel to make sure some bacteria stays
p.s it must be better for plants yea ? as it will compact around the base and then it will stay nice and flat

 

[Ron]

Great idea! Hope everything goes well on you move!
Ron
P.S. Yea, my live plants in teh sand do much better then the ones in gravle, again, its more natural for them. Do you see more plants in lakes growing in sand or gravle? Sand!! LOL

 

[tribalsilver_shark]

ok lol now working out how much will i need
im trying to move sooner i want to get it sorted fast as moving home is bad enough without worrying on 2 fishtanks

ill set my 2ft up for 2 days with water media gravel from large tank then put fish into it untill i can get the large tank into flat (same day)and get it up running for a daybefor i put them back but

how much sand i need how can i work it out some 1 had link to workout light heat and stuff and water .does any 1 know this link to work out howmuch i need

 

[Inchworm]

but my bacteria is settled in my old gravel.so when i move can i remove half the gravel then put half back into the tank andthen place sand over the top of the gravel so i keep alot of bacteria in the gravel i had at the bottom

Tribalsilver_shark,

I don't think that this is a very good idea. The bacteria is growing in the gravel, but if you cover it with sand I don't think it will be able to survive.

My reasoning is that the bacteria lives and grows in only the top layers of gravel and if it is buried by more than 1/2" or so of sand you will be putting (all or part of) it at a depth where it does not ordinarily live.

I could be wrong about this, though.

 

[Pufferpack]

Hi tribalsilver_shark

I use a mix of sand/gravel in a couple of our tanks and I find that the sand eventually works it's way to the bottom and the gravel becomes predominant (looks good in the intermediate stages with a few stones poking through the sand) when this happens I remove some of the gravel and try to re-distribute the sand.
Inchworm makes a good point about possibly smothering your bacteria, I would recomend lining the back of the tank with the gravel and the front all sand, then if you like the sand you can eventually replace the gravel from the back once the sand is matured.

 

[Ron]

You'll need 1 lb of substrate for every gallon of water. Good Luck
Ron

 

[tribalsilver_shark]

thanks every 1 and blinding idea from the person who said do half

i cant go wrong then ill take a mix of advice then put them together meaning half tank sand half gravel but only showing sand at the front so when looking thats what you see

now what type is best couple of ppl said diff tpes

 

[Ron]

I and most people use simple playsand. You can buy it at any hardware store.
Ron

 

[KnuckleHead]

Take a look at how I have the sand and gravel in one of my 55g. This works great for me and I get the best of both worlds. The pic is located in the pic section under my 55g.