Gravel *and* Sand?

[smudge_]

is it ok to add some sand with fish in the tank? I wouldn't mind some corys at some point but have stones. If the sand went in took a while to settle would this annoy the current fish?

If you wash the sand very well, and then pour it into a bowl and lower the bowl into the tank, it should not mist the water

great advice, thanks very much!

 

[smudge_]

One more sand q.

Will any sand do? B&Q/Argos sell play sand really really cheap, will this do? or do you need more expensive sand the lfs will try and sell you?

 

[Noahs ark6]

One more sand q.

Will any sand do? B&Q/Argos sell play sand really really cheap, will this do? or do you need more expensive sand the lfs will try and sell you?

Argos playsand works great i use it in my tank. But it does need quite a bit of washing before you put it in

 

[smudge_]

is it ok to add some sand with fish in the tank? I wouldn't mind some corys at some point but have stones. If the sand went in took a while to settle would this annoy the current fish?

If you wash the sand very well, and then pour it into a bowl and lower the bowl into the tank, it should not mist the water

lets just say this didnt exactly work as well for me as planned still it shoudlnt annoy the fish too much

 

[Noahs ark6]

The will most likely be fine

 

[smudge_]

yea thankfully although the water looks concerning in the tank if I take a glass of it out its actually relatively clear.

Filled the front half of the tank with sand and pushed the gravel back to deepen it, whilst my fish don't seem to care my frog has properly come out of hiding for the first time since I got him and he seems to be enjoying himself.

 

[Noahs ark6]

awesome, hope all goes well for u

 

[Autonerd]

Update: Took a couple of days for the water to clear, but the fish seemed none the worse for wear. My filter stalled once, so I checked it religiously and it seems to be working just fine now. I went all sand and added pebbles on the surface in the corners of the tank, plus a bigger-rock "riverbed" through the center that goes under my cheesy little bridge. I like that I can see all the crap up top, and it's really very easy to clean at water changes, although getting the siphon stirs stuff up a bit.

Only problem now is that the sand gives the tank a little less color, so I'm going to need to add/chnage plants. So far I only have six pygmy cories and one dwarf gourami. Neons or cardinals are next, we'll see if they add a little color. I want to add a couple of ghost shrimp to help the cories clean up. I'd like a couple of guppies just to add a bit more color, but I have to be careful that I'm not overstocked (15G US).

Really am happy with the change, I like the natural look, and I like not worrying much about the corys, although they still do seem to enjoy picking around the pebbles.

Thanks again everyone for the advice.
Aaron