Gravel

[fish_r_great]

Do remember though that Blue Rams don't handle stress well and clown loaches easily get ich.

 

[pnyklr3]

Most clown (I hear) get ich even from the stress of being bagged and brought home. I didn't have this problem. Mine only came about at the substrate change.

 

[Barracuda518]

Most clown (I hear) get ich even from the stress of being bagged and brought home. I didn't have this problem. Mine only came about at the substrate change.

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I dont have any clown loaches, but I do have 4 yoyo loaches, will they be alright? I have become very attached to them and dont want them to get sick, but I want them to be happy, which is why i want to add some sand for them to dig in..

 

[pnyklr3]

Which is the exact readon why I went to sand. Just make sure you don't have to chase them down too much (that will stress them, make sure the bucket is heated, and they aren't in it terriblely long. That's the best you can do.

 

[Barracuda518]

I take it thats its a bad idea to have gravel and sand in the same tank? Does it matter of some sand gets in with the gravel?

 

[pnyklr3]

Eventually, they will mix together, with the gravel being on top of the sand.

 

[Barracuda518]

Yes, but while that harm anything? Im probably going all sand, but I would like to divide it too

 

[pnyklr3]

Won't hurt. I take that back. The sand will compact, and if left undisturbed, anaerobic bacteria will start to develop. If this happens and the "pocket" is disturbed, it will pollute the water, and possible kill all of the fish. This will happen if you have sand-only, as well. The way to stop this from happening is to stir up the sand every now and then (I do it during water changes with my fingers).

 

[Barracuda518]

it will be disturbed by the loaches and cories hopefully..

 

[pnyklr3]

Not enough though. Esp if you have larger (heavier) pieces of decoration sitting on the sand. I have loaches AND trumpet snails in the sand, and it won't be enough. IMO, better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Barracuda518]

Not enough though. Esp if you have larger (heavier) pieces of decoration sitting on the sand. I have loaches AND trumpet snails in the sand, and it won't be enough. IMO, better to be safe than sorry.

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I agree. I dont have a problem disturbing it myself. I was just making sure that if some of the sand mixes with the gravel, that it wont cause problems...

 

[pnyklr3]

As long as you mix it up, no problems. And mixing it will keep everything from settling too much, and it will continue to look the way you want it.

EDIT: If you want to keep the sand and gravel separate, you can always build a little partition to keep the two apart. It was done here before....just don't know in with sub-forum.

 

[Barracuda518]

Sounds good. So basically you are telling me to go all sand and not even mess with the gravel? It sounds like you like the way it worked out for you and everyone else seems to like it. I dont need a special filter do I and how hard is it to keep the sand clean?

Thanks for all your help B)

 

[Raven_24]

I've been wondering about this too as my tanks all gravel (used to belong to my brother) although I haven't ever had any probs with it except for my fish dying twice but that was nothing to do with me - my mum killed them by accident when I was on holiday coz water level had gone halfway down spray bar and was making gurgling noise, it kept her awake and she didn't know what the noise was so she turned the switch off (included the heater/lights etc) and my power cut out last winter only my gouramis survived It was a sad time.

But anyways! I was thinking of getting a catfish or maybe a wormy loach or 3 (can't remember their names) and I know they're sensitive on the underside so I was wondering if the gravel would hurt them?
At the mo I have 3 young mollies bout 1" long and 2 gouramis about 3"

 

[Barracuda518]

The gravel shouldnt hurt them as long as its not to big, course and have sharp edges. If they can dig in the gravel and it not hurt the areas around their mouths, then they should be fine..

Im changing over to sand becuase everyone says its better for the loaches and cories and that is what I have the most of...