If you cover the filter intakes and gravel vacs to prevent this they will leave more waste behind, which could hurt your fish and plants. Crushed Coral. Aquarium stones add accent and interest. Contained within this moisture are billions of broad-spectrum marine bacteria but also carefully selected strains of marine bacteria to help begin the formation of your aquarium’s biological filter. (10 gallon) aquarium with a female guppy, 2 female platys, a betta, 3 goldfish, a pleco. Sand would probably be better for roots to grow in. But I find that water changes are difficult with sand. Both gravel and sand share an equal spotlight to beautify your display. Shrimp sand vs gravel Sign in to follow this . Gravel requires a deeper cleaning typically with a gravel 10 Gallon Tank. Gravel is the right choice because they said the gaps between granules would allow water to flow, thereby reducing microbial growth. and 3 glofish. Using sand in your aquarium can help make your cleaning duties easier, as it doesn’t let waste filter down between the particles as easily as gravel or crushed coral, for example. Sand is packed more closely than gravel and therefore doesn’t need cleaning as much, and food particles are less likely to get trapped underneath like they do in gravel tanks. 5,589 5.6K. It is this high nutrient content which promotes the desired strong plant growth, even with very demanding aquarium plants, such as lawn builders. Treated Aquarium Sand. Different substrates like Argonite, Gravel, Sand, Crush coral, Vermiculate, Aquasoil, and Laterite are available. I used to have sand but each time I siphoned the debris, the sand would be sucked out together from the tank. bailey88 2 ... (Paratya Australiensis) for a small scale supply to private aquarium owners and … Personally, I like the look of sand but when you hear some of the problems people have with, although most are from people with no experience with it, it just seems a pain to deal with. By mrs.peace21, 7 years ago on Aquarium Plants. I actually had to stop using sand in clients' tanks because it was too easy to maintain. Aquarium Sand vs Gravel: the Pros and Cons. But gravel isn’t your only option for an aquarium, and in many cases, sand can actually make a better choice Not only is sand cheaper, but it’s actually superior to gravel in several ways. We are going to look at the advantages and disadvantages of sand and gravel for our shrimp and fish. While aquarium sand doesn’t allow the water to flow through it as well as gravel does, this does not matter too much if you have bottom feeders or burrowing fish, as they will sift through the sand to find food which will promote cleanliness. As mentioned, certain fish and plants do better with sand instead of gravel. The biggest difference between sand and gravel is that if you buy a high quality sand, with a relatively uniform grain size, you will have a much easier time maintaining your water quality. ‍‍‍ Get all the extra benefits by becoming a channel member. Sand vs Gravel Which is easier to clean and maintain? Firstly, gravel comes in different shapes, sizes, and colors that basically offer you a chance to customize your aquarium and give it a unique look. Gravel vs. By bailey88, August 15, 2012 in Shrimp Tank Setup. Aquarium Sand vs Gravel? Equipment: automatic heater filter airstone bubbler 1 regular ligh bulb 1 plant light bulb aquarium gravel . Agree with James: food doesn't get stuck in sand. Sand. Sand vs. Gravel HELP!!! There are very few tanks I would put gravel in and those have huge fish like oscars who would kick up sand too much. I have a 21 in. We will try to find the answer whether the substrate is even required. The Shifting Sands of Tank Perfection - Dry Sand vs Live Sand. Is sand or gravel better for a planted aquarium? I want to use Flourite Black for substrate and I'm wondering if the gravel is better for roots since the sand is very fine and might compact too much. So, the sand will be gradually reduced after a while. Substrate for the aquarium tank is often overlooked but choosing the perfect one will make you Aquarium look amazing. Sand is better for catfish with sensitive barbels that can wear down over time on gravel. A great option for stabilizing and enhancing pH is crushed coral. Sand vs. Gravel HELP!!! But it looks really nice though... Gravel is much easier to vacuum, and I guess it looks nice too. So come down and visit us at Kellyville Pets today and make the right choice for you fishy friend! Freshwater Aquarium Sand vs Gravel: Comparison. Aquarium sand vs. pool filter sand vs. play sand vs. other sand? And you have to stir it once in a while. I'm going to be setting up my new goldfish aquarium tomorrow, and I'm torn between sand and gravel. Here, we are going to look at the most popular Gravel and Sand! So sand vs gravel? Many people choose to use sand instead of gravel for their the aquarium. Usually, gravel is better for most of the freshwater aquariums than sand. Free Delivery for all orders over $30.00 with AfterPay , ZipPay & ZipMoney Available at Checkout ! Some fish species prefer a sand substrate. A range of Aquarium Substate , Sand & Gravel to suit both freshwater & Marine Fish Tanks. We’re reviewing gravel in this article, but there are some great options for aquarium sand as well. Sent from my Z220 using Fish Lore Aquarium Fish Forum mobile app Aquarists will settle for the one that will serve a specific purpose. by Craig on Aug 9, 2020 As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Sand and aquarium soils are harder to maintain because gravel vacuums and filters can pick up the sediment along with the waste products. Freshwater aquarium sand can be pH neutral, while specialty blends are made for fish like African Cichlids that prefer hard water with a higher mineral content. They're in a gravel aquarium now and love to dig through the substrate, picking up pieces and spitting them back out. Now that we’ve briefly discussed the role and variations of sand in the wild, and how this connects to your reef tank, it’s time to get into the gritty topic of aquarium sand types. Today I would like to talk about bare bottom tanks, sand, and gravel as a substrate. This keeps debris on top, and if there is sufficient water movement in the tank, the waste will be caught and removed by the aquarium filter . Aquarium Gravel vs Sand If your unsure about whether to use gravel or sand, our experienced staff in the aquarium section can help make the right choice. It is however, easier to use a siphon tube to clean the substrate as the gravel won’t get sucked up. But some fish like corys prefer sand over gravel because of their whiskers.. It is softer and gentler on fish and allows you to keep a wide variety of bottom dwelling species. Sand VS. Gravel in my freshwater aquarium? Hi, I'm returning to the hobby after a long absence and starting up my old Oceanic 58g. A detailed and helpful comparison of aquarium sand and gravel, we discuss the main pros and cons of each, if you have questions then here are the answers. Fish: 2 mollies 1 platty 1 neon 2 guppies . I bought a 20lbs bag of aquarium sand from Petco. When shopping for aquarium gravel, it is critical to think over how deep does the tank gravel need to be. Recommended Posts. If you stuck the tube down into the sand like you would gravel, you would suck up sand. Sand, on the other hand and depending on how fine of a sand you get, will not allow any debris or foodstuffs to pass. Any waste will sit on top of the sand, allowing it to get stirred back up and hopefully sucked into the filter. Gravel collects foodstuffs and debris, and allows it to rot inside and sink further into the substrate, so unless you siphon/vacuum very well, there will always be some kind of build-up. Popular Substrate to choose . Shrimp sand vs gravel. Gravel vs Sand? Almost every aquascaper swears by soil, and there’s a good reason for this: unlike sand or gravel, soil is packed full with nutrients. !. Member. However this means you will see every bit of waste the fish leave behind, almost as much as with a bare bottom tank. This article is the first in our new series where we will look at the elements of hardscaping in a planted tank in greater detail. Gravel, if the pebbles are really small, can also be good. Sand won’t allow food and waste to fall through the cracks like gravel will. of gravel for each gallon. I posted the question the other day what was best for catfish and my filter gravel, sand, or glass marbles and obviously arrived at the conclusion that sand was really the only option with catfish. I've heard good things about both, but my Goldies are substrate pickers. One of the first purchases most aquarists will make for a new aquarium, be it freshwater, saltwater, reef, discus, goldfish, cichlid or any other – is the gravel and substrate.It could be sand, crushed coral, Fluorite, neon pink pebbles, glass marbles or countless other materials but it all tends to be the very first thing to go into an empty aquariums. However, sand is more prone to clouding your water, it could damage filters, and there is a chance of toxic air chambers forming in the sand. The gravel vs. sand debate often depends on what type of fish you are keeping and what type of tank you have. Jul 1, 2014. frogfan. Use one large rock or several stones arranged in groups. If you plan to buy tank gravel, keep in mind that you have to utilize 1 ½ lb. Overall I will go with sand. So in this article, you will learn some great tips on how to clean aquarium sand. Sand looks natural and beautiful. Live sand is the same type of sand as dry sand except it comes packaged wet. Followers 0. It made an aquarium maintenance job too easy and too fast, they saw what I … I'm waiting to move to upgrade the fish into a 50 gallon tank, but since money is tight i can't buy everything I need for the tank at once..