Gravel Or Sand

[hjkaga]

i am setting up a tank that will have corys in it. should i use sand or small sized gravel for the bottom of the tank?

 

[-*-MicHAeL-*-]

Your corys will prefer sand. Plus it looks better IMO and is easier to clean

 

[hjkaga]

is their anything u have to do to playsand to use it in a fish tank, or just put it in the tank and add water?

 

[-*-MicHAeL-*-]

I have no idea whether or not it is safe to use play sand. I use special aquarium sand which i buy from my LFS

 

[hjkaga]

how much does aquarium sand cost?

 

[-*-MicHAeL-*-]

Well i live in the Uk and 25Kg cost around 10 pounds.

 

[hjkaga]

if i figured it up right it is about $20 for 55 lbs.....which is a good price...i will check for aquarium sand at the lfs. thanks.

 

[-*-MicHAeL-*-]

no problem

 

[erk628]

no problem

WOW, $20.00 for a 50 pound bag, thats a rip off. Use playsand there is nothing wrong with it. It costs about $2.70 for a fifty pound bag. Your choice either brown or white. The only difference that I can see between aquarium sand and playsand if the price. Many people on this forum use playsand including me. Like all sand make sure to wash it out in a big pan or bucket before putting it in the tank. The reason for this is because the sand has been handled many times before you get it so it has created dust which you want to try and rinse out. You won't get it all but you will get some. It will still be cloudy after you fill your tank but it will be less cloudy and clear up faster if you rinse it good first. Also when adding sand make sure to do it with no water in the tank or you will be sorry (very cloudy for days even weeks.) When adding water use a plate pour the water on the plate so it doesn't cause sand to go every were clouding up you tank. Use a plate with water changes also. Last thing is you can use chemicals to help clear your cloudy tank up faster because no matter what it will get cloudy with sand. I use Tetra Aqua Water Clarifier, it works good. The way it works is it clumps the particles so it can get caught by the filter better speeding up the clearing process alot. Also remember to check the perpeler in you filter once in a will espesially at first sand may build up on it making the filter wear out sooner if its not cleaned off. Hope this helps out.

 

[SuperColey1]

Playsand is MS55 graded sand. perfect for the aquarium. very fine. lovely to look at. you will need to rinse all the 'dust' off . Put half a bucket full under the sink and leave for a couple of hours. every 10 mins stir it up.

Most of the dust will 'leave' as the water overflows. When you have put it in the tank gently pour the water through a colander or syphon it onto a plate so it doesn't stir the sand up too much.

Play sand in UK would cost £5/$9 to fill the bottom of a 10Gallon maybe maybe 15G.

Aquarium sand is often play sand relabled (we sell play sand in our business. it is the same as silver/dry sand except that play sand is moist and dry/silver sand is.............dry)

Very cheap and very nice looking.

Depends on your fish wether you want white or brown. some fish prefer darker substrate

 

[hjkaga]

thanks. i am going to consider using sand, but i am still leaning more towards small gravel cause i heard the sand can clog up the filter and cause problems. also i don't want to have to mess with adding a supplement to the water all the time to get rid of the cloudyness. Just more work I don't want, lol.

 

[LisaLQ]

I'd go for 2-3mm pea gravel, as long as it's rounded, it'll be fine for the cories. My cories hated the sand, and it's a pain in the backside to clean - and yep, it clogs up your filter. It's just not necessary if you get fine gravel - then you can vac up more vigorously, and therefore keep it much cleaner - which in turn is even better for your cories as it'll lower the chances of infections to those barbels

Mine have all been on large gravel, sand, and now 2-3mm pea gravel - and have been fine

 

[erk628]

I'd go for 2-3mm pea gravel, as long as it's rounded, it'll be fine for the cories. My cories hated the sand, and it's a pain in the backside to clean - and yep, it clogs up your filter. It's just not necessary if you get fine gravel - then you can vac up more vigorously, and therefore keep it much cleaner - which in turn is even better for your cories as it'll lower the chances of infections to those barbels

Mine have all been on large gravel, sand, and now 2-3mm pea gravel - and have been fine

With this pea size gravel can you clean (vacume) it just like you can regular gravel, meaning dig to the bottom or do you have to hover over the top like sand. Also I agree keeping sand clean is very difficult!!

 

[fish-r-fancy]

I would still go with play sand because your cories will prefer it. From my experience I found that the only way sand clogs the filter is if you put an airstand under a H.O.B filter, the filter will suck up the sand resulting in it being clogged. You also don't have to add chemicals to a tank with a sand substrate offen, just when you put the sand in. I think the best way to clean sand before use is to put the sand in a pillow case outside and get the garden hose and just put the garden hose in the pillowcase turned on and all of the water will run right through the pillowcase. And when doing water changes to make sure you don't stir the sand I pour water onto a sponge. Hope I was of some help and good luck!

 

[Irf]

In one tank I have small pea gravel, and in the new one I have sand. The pea gravel is easy to clean, apart from having to deal with all the plants, rocks and logs.

The sandy tank is for my cichlids (coming this weekend I hope), and currently has a large yoyo loach and 3 BN plecs. I am worried about keeping the sand clean because vacuuming is not as easy - the sand just goes up the tube! Instead I have to hover the tube just above the surface - not easy.

I used even cheaper builders sand. A nice deep golden colour so not too bright and reflective for the fish. However it is very very silty, and needed several washes before it was crystal clear. Then I added to the tank and added water. Virtually zero cloudiness. I would suggest that this is actually the most important step, because even if you allow it to settle then everytime your fish or you agitates the bed it will get cloudy again! And I'm definitely not keen on adding chemicals to compensate for not washing the sand enough.

I actually went for the sand because I though the cichlids would like it better, and also for a change.

Irf.