Gravel Or Sand? Freshwater

[draxis]

Is it asthetics? Or is one truly better than the other?

Which do plants prefer?

Which do fish prefer?

 

[mike455555]

depends on the fish and plants, corys love to play in sand and so do some loaches, i think plants are easyer to root in sand, and in general sand looks more natural but its down to personal preference  

 

[Zante]

depends on the fish and plants, corys love to play in sand and so do some loaches, i think plants are easyer to root in sand, and in general sand looks more natural but its down to personal preference  

 
+1

 

[wrightt3]

As said, it depends on the fish really.
Most bottom dwellers such as cories, eels, Plecos, bichirs etc will prefer a sand substrate because it is softer and won't harm them.
If you are keeping fish that have a tenancy to rearrange the tank (large cichlids for example) then you are better off having gravel because the sand will be constantly disrupted and will make the tank look cloudy.
 
Gravel is easier to maintain than sand but essentially it is down to preference

 

[mike455555]

gravel is not easier to maintain, it gets clogged up and cause ammonia spikes, where as sand the poo sits on top so you can suck it up easy 

 

[draxis]

I want to switch to sand so looks like no one will disagree! Good news for me!

 

[Boromir]

Sand for me is much better for me. Easier to clean in my opinion you can see any dirt that needs cleaning up and my Corys and clown loaches love it.

 

[ShinySideUp]

Two thirds of my 640 litre tank is gravel and the other third is sand -- best of both worlds. I separate them with inert plastic rock-shaping.

 

[fluttermoth]

As said, it depends on the fish really.
Most bottom dwellers such as cories, eels, Plecos, bichirs etc will prefer a sand substrate because it is softer and won't harm them.
If you are keeping fish that have a tenancy to rearrange the tank (large cichlids for example) then you are better off having gravel because the sand will be constantly disrupted and will make the tank look cloudy.
 
Gravel is easier to maintain than sand but essentially it is down to preference

My oscar is in a sand tank now and, although he does cover the catfish's caves in a layer of sand, the tank isn't cloudy at all.

I think sand is easier to maintain as well.

 

[wrightt3]

 
My oscar is in a sand tank now and, although he does cover the catfish's caves in a layer of sand, the tank isn't cloudy at all.

I think sand is easier to maintain as well.
 

 

gravel is not easier to maintain, it gets clogged up and cause ammonia spikes, where as sand the poo sits on top so you can suck it up easy 

 
In that case, completely ignore me

 

[KirkyArcher]

Gravel is best  Never had an Ammonia spike when I had gravel in a tank, and new tank will have gravel in it, sand levels out over time too something gravel resists doing.

 

[ShinySideUp]

Gravel is best

 Never had an Ammonia spike when I had gravel in a tank, and new tank will have gravel in it, sand levels out over time too something gravel resists doing.

+1 on that, there's no landscaping with sand.

 

[draxis]

I would prefer to landscape on a clean flat sand bed though

 

[eaglesaquarium]

 

Gravel is best

 Never had an Ammonia spike when I had gravel in a tank, and new tank will have gravel in it, sand levels out over time too something gravel resists doing.

+1 on that, there's no landscaping with sand.
 

 
You can landscape it, you just need to put some structure under it to help hold it in place.

 

[TaurineLittle]

In all of my tanks I've done gravel, simply because I liked the look and it seemed to be the easier option at the time. In my next tank I will be going sand though, because I'll be trying to replicate a biotope. I think it depends on the look that you are going for and the fish in your tank (like others have said), if you want a dirted/planted tank, I would go gravel simply because it would hold down the dirt easier. But in the way of which one is better, you will get a lot of people saying each one is better (its like asking if a sump filter or canister filter is better ) both have pros and cons, but not enough to have a real impact on the health of your tank.