Should I Replace Gravel with Sand?

[Avel1896]

Granulometry isn't this important.

 

[PlasticGalaxy]

Granulometry isn't this important.

Pardon?

 

[PheonixKingZ]

CPG = Clown Puke Gravel

 

[PlasticGalaxy]

CPG = Clown Puke Gravel

Oh, hahaha! I love that horrible look! One day I plan on having an all-out garish looking tank. Rainbow gravel, unicorn ornaments, tacky airstones... One oversized goldfish called "Goldy".

 

[Slaphppy7]

Hang on, what's CPG? Sorry, I'm pretty slow.

Clown
Puke
Gravel

 

[PlasticGalaxy]

Clown
Puke
Gravel

Fun fact: that sort of thing was my original choice for substrate. My dad eventually managed to change my mind, which was fortunate to be honest.

 

[Slaphppy7]

Good job, Dad...

 

[Avel1896]

Pardon?

Gravel size.

 

[PlasticGalaxy]

Gravel size.

What do you mean then? About it not being "this important"?

 

[PheonixKingZ]

That was my first substrate as well... thought it was the coolest thing.

 

[Avel1896]

Gravel size (granulometry) is not this important : 1 millimeter, 5 millimeters...
What IS important is smooth/polished gravel : no bump, lump, rough patch.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Gravel size (granulometry) is not this important : 1 millimeter, 5 millimeters...
What IS important is smooth/polished gravel : no bump, lump, rough patch.

Are you saying it’s not important for filter feeders like Corydoras?

I would agree with the above statement for loaches, but not corys.

 

[Avel1896]

Are you saying it’s not important for filter feeders like Corydoras?

I would agree with the above statement for loaches, but not corys.

That's what I say
I know a 35 years Corydoras breeder that grows Corydoras on different SMOOTH/POLISHED granulometries.

 

[AbbeysDad]

I swirl the siphon above the sand to lift the dirt and then get it. I always seem to get a little sand siphoned out by accident so I'm slowly losing it a little at a time but sand is dirt cheap so I don't care. Just don't put it down your drain.

Don't fear the mulm (Mulm and Algae and Snails, Oh My!) Some Malaysian Trumpet Snails will make short work of any surface debris.

Just make sure you stir the sand occasionally during cleanings so that no poisonous gas pockets form.

NO! There are a couple of reasons NOT to stir up sand substrates. First, you really don't want to push organics deep down under as that's when anaerobic decomposition of organic matter creates unwanted gases...and second, there's a world of beneficial biology that lives in the deep sand and their depth is partial based on the available oxygen. Stirring the sand upsets this very important environment. (see The Very Best Aquarium Filter) Lessons from or SW hobbyist friends.

Creating anaerobic area is one issue with using sand. With deep levels of sand you can get Hydrogen sulphide (swamp gas) in the substrate which can kill your fish.

This is a parroted myth. I've had deep (4") pool filter sand in my 60g low tech planted tank for 10 years and with the exception of planting plants, have never touched the sand!

Now there may be something to be said for Dr. Kevin Novak's plenum approach (Using a Plenum in a Freshwater Aquarium) but I have yet to try this.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

I’m confused...