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gravel vs sand ? 1/4" gravel max?

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gravel vs sand ? 1/4" gravel max? erik w 03-14-2006
Posted by erik w on March 14, 2006, 7:37 pm
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One website that seems to be fine for purchasing fish on the Internet is
www.aquariumfish.net . How ever this site recommends that a MAX of 1/4"
of gravel be used. I don't think I would agree with this but I was
wondering if anyone else had any experience in the comparison. I
actually use black sand. It is the first time I have used sand and it
seems to be working well. One advantage I see is that the waste sits on
top of the sand and is easily removed. The way I was to told to clean
the sand is to stir the sand and the waste will be cleaned be the
filter. I have 40 lbs of black sand which ends up being about 3/4" of
sand. Another question of mine is if the sand is actually better than
gravel.

Well I am trying something new, mostly because I hated the color of the
gravel I had (green, black, yellow). At the time I had to make due
because the place was out of blue and they did not have enough any one
color. The sand is much prettier.

Erik

Posted by Marco Schwarz on March 15, 2006, 2:24 pm
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 Hi..

> I actually use black sand.

Is this a natural sand? I've river sand in each of my tanks.

> It is the first time I have used sand and it seems
> to be working well.

It does. If this were a loach-less tank it might be
beneficial to add some Malaysian Livebearing Trumpet Snails
(Melanoides tubercutata).

> One advantage I see is that the waste sits on top
> of the sand

But no real advantage using river sand. ;-)

> The way I was to told to clean the sand is to stir
> the sand and the waste will be cleaned be the filter.

Depends on fish mates and fish load I think, the waste may
also be removed by water changes.

> I have 40 lbs of black sand which ends up being
> about 3/4" of sand.

A planted tank may have 2-4" sand, but don't know at all if
yours is a planted tank, how big that tank is, if your
floor might be able to take that additional load..
--
cu
Marco

Posted by erik w on March 16, 2006, 6:16 pm
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Marco Schwarz wrote:
> Hi..
>
>
>>I actually use black sand.
>
>
> Is this a natural sand? I've river sand in each of my tanks.
>
>
>>It is the first time I have used sand and it seems
>>to be working well.
>
>
> It does. If this were a loach-less tank it might be
> beneficial to add some Malaysian Livebearing Trumpet Snails
> (Melanoides tubercutata).
>
>
>>One advantage I see is that the waste sits on top
>>of the sand
>
>
> But no real advantage using river sand. ;-)
>
>
>>The way I was to told to clean the sand is to stir
>>the sand and the waste will be cleaned be the filter.
>
>
> Depends on fish mates and fish load I think, the waste may
> also be removed by water changes.
>
>
>>I have 40 lbs of black sand which ends up being
>>about 3/4" of sand.
>
>
> A planted tank may have 2-4" sand, but don't know at all if
> yours is a planted tank, how big that tank is, if your
> floor might be able to take that additional load..

My tank is a 75 ga. It has no plants now. I would like to have some live
plants but not many. I will need rock for my fish. My plan is to have
African chichlids, mbuna or peacocks (Note: not both). The idea of rock
brings up another question and that is where is a good, cheap place to
get rock. Pet stores seem to charge 20 $ for a single large piece of
slate.The pet store prices keep the same pattern for all rock. Everyone
I know that have rock get it in what I think of as bad locations, sucks
as drainage ditches. Maybe I should start a new subject on where to
aquire rock.

Thanks for the reply.

erik

Posted by NetMax on March 17, 2006, 5:03 pm
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> Marco Schwarz wrote:
>> Hi..
>>
>>
>>>I actually use black sand.
>>
>>
>> Is this a natural sand? I've river sand in each of my tanks.
>>
>>
>>>It is the first time I have used sand and it seems
>>>to be working well.
>>
>>
>> It does. If this were a loach-less tank it might be
>> beneficial to add some Malaysian Livebearing Trumpet Snails
>> (Melanoides tubercutata).
>>>One advantage I see is that the waste sits on top
>>>of the sand
>>
>>
>> But no real advantage using river sand. ;-)
>>
>>
>>>The way I was to told to clean the sand is to stir
>>>the sand and the waste will be cleaned be the filter.
>>
>>
>> Depends on fish mates and fish load I think, the waste may
>> also be removed by water changes.
>>
>>
>>>I have 40 lbs of black sand which ends up being
>>>about 3/4" of sand.
>>
>>
>> A planted tank may have 2-4" sand, but don't know at all if
>> yours is a planted tank, how big that tank is, if your
>> floor might be able to take that additional load..
>
> My tank is a 75 ga. It has no plants now. I would like to have some live
> plants but not many. I will need rock for my fish. My plan is to have
> African chichlids, mbuna or peacocks (Note: not both). The idea of rock
> brings up another question and that is where is a good, cheap place to
> get rock. Pet stores seem to charge 20 $ for a single large piece of
> slate.The pet store prices keep the same pattern for all rock. Everyone I
> know that have rock get it in what I think of as bad locations, sucks as
> drainage ditches. Maybe I should start a new subject on where to aquire
> rock.
>
> Thanks for the reply.
>
> erik

About rocks, search and test criteria:
http://www.2cah.com/netmax/basics/rocks/rocks.shtml

I usually find the best rocks driving around, or where there are
construction projects underway. Your local aquarium society should have
good contacts for local sources. Quarries too, although not free, they are
still much cheaper than a pet shop. hth
--
www.NetMax.tk



Posted by erik w on March 17, 2006, 5:41 pm
Please log in for more thread options
NetMax wrote:
>
>>Marco Schwarz wrote:
>>
>>>Hi..
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>I actually use black sand.
>>>
>>>
>>>Is this a natural sand? I've river sand in each of my tanks.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>It is the first time I have used sand and it seems
>>>>to be working well.
>>>
>>>
>>>It does. If this were a loach-less tank it might be
>>>beneficial to add some Malaysian Livebearing Trumpet Snails
>>>(Melanoides tubercutata).
>>>
>>>>One advantage I see is that the waste sits on top
>>>>of the sand
>>>
>>>
>>>But no real advantage using river sand. ;-)
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>The way I was to told to clean the sand is to stir
>>>>the sand and the waste will be cleaned be the filter.
>>>
>>>
>>>Depends on fish mates and fish load I think, the waste may
>>>also be removed by water changes.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>I have 40 lbs of black sand which ends up being
>>>>about 3/4" of sand.
>>>
>>>
>>>A planted tank may have 2-4" sand, but don't know at all if
>>>yours is a planted tank, how big that tank is, if your
>>>floor might be able to take that additional load..
>>
>>My tank is a 75 ga. It has no plants now. I would like to have some live
>>plants but not many. I will need rock for my fish. My plan is to have
>>African chichlids, mbuna or peacocks (Note: not both). The idea of rock
>>brings up another question and that is where is a good, cheap place to
>>get rock. Pet stores seem to charge 20 $ for a single large piece of
>>slate.The pet store prices keep the same pattern for all rock. Everyone I
>>know that have rock get it in what I think of as bad locations, sucks as
>>drainage ditches. Maybe I should start a new subject on where to aquire
>>rock.
>>
>>Thanks for the reply.
>>
>>erik
>
>
> About rocks, search and test criteria:
> http://www.2cah.com/netmax/basics/rocks/rocks.shtml
>
> I usually find the best rocks driving around, or where there are
> construction projects underway. Your local aquarium society should have
> good contacts for local sources. Quarries too, although not free, they are
> still much cheaper than a pet shop. hth


Thanks and great web page. I wish I had that type of job although I
probably don't have the patience.


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