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josh_tffinc
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Post subject: Sand Vs Gravel  Posted: Oct 05, 2005 - 02:39 PM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Sep 23, 2005
Posts: 13
Status: Offline
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| Hey all. Okay so I currently have a 15 ga tank, and have had very bad luck. Im getting a new 29ga tank next week, and I have been wondering about aquarium sand. I really like the loon of the black sand, but I am concerned about cleaning and how it will effect the water, etc. I was thinking about getting a flounder, and I have heard that they prefer sand bottoms. Any input? And also, what is a good way to start out the tank, I really dont want any more fish to die. Thanks in advance! |
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mmlane
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| Post subject: RE: Sand Vs Gravel Posted: Oct 05, 2005 - 03:14 PM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Jul 22, 2004
Posts: 6169
Location: Kansas
Status: Offline
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I have black sand in my 10, and I basically clean it every time I walk by the tank. It does show every bit of anything that drops on it. I currently have my 55 empty and really, really want to put black sand in it, but am weary.
I guess I cannot address the question about starting the tank because I don't know what mistakes you made the first time around. Definitely seed it with any filter media from the 15 that you can, transplant some decorations, take some gravel out of the 15 and put it in the 29--in a nylon stocking. |
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Don't tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish.
--Mark Twain
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Flutterby21782
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| Post subject: RE: Sand Vs Gravel Posted: Oct 05, 2005 - 03:50 PM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Feb 25, 2003
Posts: 136
Location: Watertown, NY, USA
Status: Offline
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| I have play sand (as oppossed to aquarium sand), I read the site wrong. I like the way the sand looks in my tank, but it's a pain to vacuum, when my parrots really start digging my water is really cloudy. Aquarium sand though I'm sure is more course and not as much of a pain and "play" sand. |
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Daisy - Labrador Retriever/Husky mix.
Cookie - Syrian Hamster
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Finch - American Rabbit
Bunny - Holland Lop
Goldfish to come
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Henrye
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| Post subject: RE: Sand Vs Gravel Posted: Oct 05, 2005 - 04:42 PM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Sep 05, 2005
Posts: 698
Location: New York, NY
Status: Offline
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Sand can look very nice, I've never maintained it and so defer to others who use it. What kind of flounder are you getting to fit in the 29g tank?
Henry |
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Henry
Now, 30g with 1 Betta (sorry niffers), 1 Blue Neon Dwarf Male Gourami (yes, they get along and even swim together), 2 Brazilian Rams, 5 Black Top Cories, 3 Platys
3g QT/HT
12g to my daughter (who now wants puffers)
75g once I take out 1 wall and relocate 1 bathroom
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Dallas75
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| Post subject: RE: Sand Vs Gravel Posted: Oct 05, 2005 - 05:29 PM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Jan 15, 2005
Posts: 816
Location: Dallas Tx
Status: Offline
 
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Welcome to FishGeeks Josh!
There are some who use and like sand substrates and claim to have no problems with it, but I've known several who have had problems with it. Thats why I don't use it. Some types look nice, but I prefer gravel because its easier to vacuum and maintain, and it is not as prone to develop anaerobic issues as is sand. |
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kichibo
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| Post subject: RE: Sand Vs Gravel Posted: Oct 05, 2005 - 05:30 PM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Mar 21, 2005
Posts: 456
Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Status: Offline
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Sand is a fine substrate, just be careful to test it carefully before adding it to a tank. If you buy commercial aqaurium sand, the manufacturer will tell you if the sand is inert or not ( meaning whether it will effect the water chemistry ). Some sand will raise Ph, others will not. Play sand must be washed VERY well, and should be tested by putting some in a bucket with an airstone and seeing if it alters water chemistry over a few days. Play sand can be the cheapest, but you must take care with it or it could cause problems. Don't skip that testing step! If you go with play sand or sand from a quarry, see if they have a larger sand grain, smaller grains can compact.
Flounder are neat fish, but can be a bit tricky. Yes, they do like sand, but since you're still new and having problems, you might not want to go with a flounder. They are sensitive and many find them difficult to keep alive.
You might want to look into something else for the time being.
As to how to set up the new tank, check out the fishless cycling article when you first log in, it will help alot  |
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magician679
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| Post subject: RE: Sand Vs Gravel Posted: Oct 05, 2005 - 06:38 PM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Sep 30, 2005
Posts: 9
Location: Helena,MT
Status: Offline
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| I have white sand in my 10 gallon tank, It looks great but as others have said the time spent caring for it is a pain. I have to clean it quit often. Other then that i kind of stir up the sand every few days to keep it from from getting anaerobic spots ( be sure to get under decor too). I dont think i would use it in one of my tall tanks as its hard to reach the bottom with out spilling water all over, but sand does look great and the fish seem to like it very well. |
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TheKapentaKid
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| Post subject: Re: RE: Sand Vs Gravel Posted: Oct 05, 2005 - 07:08 PM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Apr 04, 2004
Posts: 3825
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Status: Offline
 
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| kichibo wrote: |
Flounder are neat fish, but can be a bit tricky. Yes, they do like sand, but since you're still new and having problems, you might not want to go with a flounder. They are sensitive and many find them difficult to keep alive. |
They are also, I believe, brackish rather than FW fish which adds another complication. |
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artgecko
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| Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Sand Vs Gravel Posted: Oct 07, 2005 - 12:35 PM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Jan 24, 2002
Posts: 3418
Location: Smiths Station, AL
Status: Offline
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I have both gravel and sand tanks. I have onyx sand (sorta a charcoal color, made by seachem) in 2 tanks (2.5gl and 20gl) and it is really nice. It is for live aquarium plants and contains iron (it also comes in gravel form). It is a heavy, coarse sand, so doesn't cloud the water very much. To clean it, I vaccuum over the surface with a gravel vac and stir around in the sand w/ a finger to stir up the crud, then vacc it off the sand surface. Something else to consider if you really want sand is that you have to take measures to avoid it being sucked into the filter intake. I haven't had any problems because I make sure that the sand is at least 1.5-2" below the filter intake and I keep sponges on my filter intake tubes to prevent the sand from being sucked up (I cut an "x" in an aquaclear filter sponge and slide the slotted end of the filter intake into it).
Also, if you are buying sand, make sure that you get coarse/heavy sand, and that you rinse it out very well before putting it into the tank (you can use cheese cloth for this). You can expect a good bit of cloudiness when you first set up the tank w/ sand, so you might want to leave the filter off and just do a couple ~70% water changes to get rid of the "dust" before starting the filter.
With gravel or sand, the darker the better, since fish will try to blend into the substrate by either going paler (on light substrate) or darker (on dark substrate).
HTH,
Art |
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AliE
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| Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Sand Vs Gravel Posted: Oct 08, 2005 - 03:39 PM |
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FishGeek Member
Joined: Oct 08, 2005
Posts: 24
Location: New York, NY
Status: Offline
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Well, sand definitely takes more care, you have to stir to get bacteria out, the filter sucks it up if it gets too close, etc. Also, if you're getting a taller tank it will become a huge pain trying to reach all the way to the bottom. But if you're really up for the challenge, go for it! Flounders are very enjoyable fish and are great to have as part of your tank. And yes, use the black sand. It looks a lot nicer and more natural and for some apparent reason the Founder will feel safer and better hidden. But no matter what, if you're planning on getting a Flounder, buy sand! They'll live a much longer and happier life. Sand can also make your other fish a lot more comfortable, even though it will be a big change. Hopefully, this will also ensure that no more of your fish will die when they should be up and about. Good luck with the new tank!
Ali |
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