Gravel Or Sand?

[aparker2005]

Hey everyone............I'm not new to the hobby, but I am new to sand. I've never had it, as I've always had smooth gravel. I'm getting a new 75 gallon tank, and will have cory's and clown loaches. My cory's now are on gravel, but I've read that sand is better for them. Which one is better, easier to clean? Will the sand get sucked up in my filter? Does the sand float around a lot or does it just settle on the bottom? I'm thinking of staying with gravel just because you dont' have to clean it near as often, but was gonna see what you guys had to say!

 

[rdd1952]

It really depends on the type sand you use. Play sand is cheap but takes forever to wash and get all the dust out of. It took me over an hour on one bag and I still had very cloudy water. It shouldn't float though after it is washed and in place. Your filter shouldn't suck it (or any other sand for that matter) up unless you have the intake too close to the bottom.

I use Tahitian Moon Sand. I love the look of the black sand although the plant roots will eventually start to come through and show some. I think the black sand also really brings out the color of the fish. It is expensive but a breeze to wash. A 20 lb bag takes about 5 minutes to wash and you don't get any cloudy water at all. It settles immediately. Corys generally tend to prefer darker substrates but the play sand would work fine though. There a lot of other types of sand in between.

 

[aparker2005]

I'm using black gravel right now, and I really like that sand you posted. Now with cleaning, I use one of those suction hoses that you did into the gravel with and pump it so to say. Will I have to do this with sand, or will it suck it all up? How often do you really have to clean sand, and since I don't have time to clean the tank a lot, would it just be better to stick with my smooth black gravel?

 

[adgo]

I'm using black gravel right now, and I really like that sand you posted. Now with cleaning, I use one of those suction hoses that you did into the gravel with and pump it so to say. Will I have to do this with sand, or will it suck it all up? How often do you really have to clean sand, and since I don't have time to clean the tank a lot, would it just be better to stick with my smooth black gravel?

if u use a siphon, i heard that u just hold it a little bit above the sand but dont dig into it. im not positive but ive seen the question asked before and i think thats what the answer was.

 

[rdd1952]

It will suck some up if you get too close but the good thing about sand is that the waste sits on top and doesn't get down in the cracks and crevices like with gravel. As adgo stated, simply hover it a little above the sand and it will pick up the waste but not the sand.