Gravel Or Sand?

[Alm0stAwesome]

The sand just filters through the gravel and spreads out.

 

[coolie]

The sand just filters through the gravel and spreads out.          
 

 
 
 
Darrrrr,    biscuits!

 

[Discuslove]

I was thinking of introducing some sand patches to my gravel (like a sand pit) before introducing some loaches that like digging around.
 
But I bet it get's mixed up with the gravel and shuffled around. I can see this may be problematic before I even begin.

 
All the sand would eventually just sink to the bottom, the best choice for your loaches would be plain sand. Gravel can damage the loaches "little nose bristles" and cause them to break off and bleed.

 

[KirkyArcher]

I've never had a problem with plants rooting in sand anyway; I don't know where this 'tale' comes from!

+1

 

[coolie]

 Gravel can damage the loaches "little nose bristles" and cause them to break off and bleed.
 

 
What about clown loaches, it's just I already have them in another tank I "saved" and am going to break the tank up and sell the parts, and I was going to transfer the clowns after quaranteen to my main display tank
with gravel.

 

[fluttermoth]

All fish with barbels should be kept on sand, IMO.

 

[ncguppy830]

yea gravel can damage there barbels and then they wont be able to find food.

 

[KirkyArcher]

But UK wild fish that have barbules especially "The Barbel" live and feed almost exclusively on gravel runs in rivers and streams! Like human hands that do heavy manual labour they toughen up over time and become less delicate. (that said, to avoid any complications illness or damage I'd only run a tank that had fish with barbules in it with sand or smooth edged gravel)