Juviniles Getting Very Big Now

[Cory_Dad]

As far as sand is concerned, I don't like the fine grained sand I have seen on many posts on lots of forums. That having been said, I don't use gravel because I consider it way too coarse. I'm not sure what you call the stuff I have. It has a grain size of 1 to 2 mm so its much smaller than aquarium gravel but coarser than what most people think of as sand. It gives me some of the benefits of both. It is easy to clean, easy for my cories to move about without causing them damage and it will not trap gasses like the finer sands do. It also does not get sucked up too easily by a gravel vacuum or my filter. The local home improvement center calls it bedding sand meaning it is meant to be used when setting paving blocks in place. It has a variation in particle size from about 1 mm to the largest but rare pieces at as much as 3 mm (less than 1/16 inch to about 1/8 inch). Because it has lots of different particle sizes, it looks more natural than anything at the LFS or the pool supply house. It is very dirty when you first get it because it was never intended to be used anywhere but on top of dirt to hold up paving blocks. That means long and intensive flushing and cleaning before it can be used but I think the end result is well worth it. That's just what I like and why, but to each his own.

Edit: typos - It was a long post.

Well, the fineness was my concern. I saw a video about sand with discus and the host showed how he vacuumed it. A certain amount always got sucked up but he used a Python and put the outlet into a pail of water that collected the sand. He then dumped it back into the tank. Seems like a lot of work to me.

The other issue with the fine sand is how does it affect their gills? They usually sift mud in the rivers, don't they? That's much finer.

OldMan47, how sharp is the sand? Is it sharp? Can we get a picture? Better yet can you mail me some? (I know, that's pushing it).

This is a very hot topic (for me anyway). Everyone I talk to is in either one camp or the other but even then the actual substrate varies within each camps.

I know, I'll buy a tank for each substrate and try each one to see which I prefer! Ya, that's the ticket. And when my wife throws me out, can I come and live with one of you?

 

[5teady_2012]

Since i got my first sand tank, ever since then when setting up a new tank i use sand, imo its great.

I ahve 2 tanks that have undergravel filter and would love to switch to sand but they are so well established its not realy worth the messing about and the internal filter costs

 

[Cory_Dad]

Hi 5teady.

What kind of filters do you use or does it matter? I was just wondering if using a cannister with sand would be a problem?

Thanks.

 

[5teady_2012]

My LFS uses cannisters on thier sand tanks so i guess it would be fine.. i use internal ones on mine though m8

 

[Cory_Dad]

Thanks 5teady.

Ya, I just saw one in that last group of pictures.

I really do want to start with sand, it looks way better than gravel.

Cheers.

 

[5teady_2012]

Thanks 5teady.

Ya, I just saw one in that last group of pictures.

I really do want to start with sand, it looks way better than gravel.

Cheers.

Yeah i agree, like i said previous, if i had the choice of starting all my tanks again, they all would be sand cos i love the way they look.