half sand, half gravel?

[Stryker]

Hi peeps,

Given the state of my stocking of the community tank (see sig) I'm investing in a nice 6'x2'x2' tank real soon.

I'd like to have one half of this tank with a gravel substrate and the other half with sand..... that way my fish can choose what they prefer

Question is, is there anything stupid about this idea that I've missed? I currently have a tank with gravel and a tank with sand, but I've never done a mix of the two before.

Any problems for the fish?
I cant foresee any great maintenance problems?

 

[Crookster]

Neither can I. (see any probs)

I'm in the same position as you at the moment. I'm having to upgrade and was thinking of using sand. Let us know how you go on, I might try it myself if yours goes ok.

 

[plateletboy]

I've just set up one exactly as you wish!! it works fine so far and my cories love snuffling in the sandy bit, and tend to stay away from the gravel even though its rounded and small!!

I used a greater depth of gravel then sand, especially at the 'interface'. This is because its easier to move gravel back off the top of the sand instead of vice versa!!

secondly its great for my external cannister pickup which i can have down low on the gravel section.....

looks real good too

PB

 

[Nina7777]

The only problem I can foresee, would be where they meet in the middle. Also is you have any fish that like to redecorate you may have them pushing the gravel and sand around which will cause them to mix.

You could always but a small divider on the bottom of the tank to prevent this from happening though.

 

[The-Wolf]

I have gravel in both my sand tanks & have used long thin
pieces of slate to keep them seperated. It looks very nice and natural.
I have my airstone in the gravel section, so as not to disturb the sand.

HTH

 

[Stryker]

oooh.... and I thought I was attempting something new and novel....

I like the idea of a little slate divide.... thanks for your comments too plateletboy, all very handy tips.

Right, I'll be doing it like that then!

 

[BlueIce]

my mixed african tank..half sand /half gravel

and the fish love it np maintaining

 

[Teelie]

I'll post pictures of mine when my webhost comes back online.

 

[mlaugh]

BlueIce you have the most beautiful tanks I've seen in a long time...any more pictures (other than what's shown on your webshots page)?

 

[KnuckleHead]

There are no problems that I have found at all with having both.

 

[noop]

i've had half sand half gravel for a while now and there's been no problems

the biggest hassle is keeping the sand clean. using a vacuum, it sucks up the sand as well as the gunk, so now i just drag a net over the top of the sand. the sand slowly drops through and the larger gunky stuff stays in the net. you can also use this method if you want to move displaced gravel back out from the sand