sand or gravel

[ScubaSteve]

I'm going to be setting up an Amazon style tank after Xmas. Do you guys recommend sand or gravel. I'm going to have corys, tetras and dwarf cichlids.

 

[MrMup04]

ur getting sand too, cool so am i

hmm id say sand so the cories can have a fun tyme

 

[Emily]

Sand is awesome, i have it in my 55 and one of my tens and the fish absolutely love that stuff! plus it looks pretty, cheaper than gravel too if you buy play sand from wal-mart, hah it is a pain to lug around if you have girly muscles like me though

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Either will sufice.

Personally i think sand is easier to clean (just hover the vacum over the surface and suck up the waste. Almost nothing can penetrate the sand.

Gravel will be fine. It is the most common. Still looks good and can be cleaned with a little more work than the sand. Gravel is better for plants.

Either, will be fine.

 

[ScubaSteve]

When you vacum the tank, won't the sand get sucked up with all of the debris ???

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Not if you hover above it......don't dig into the sand.

Yes some will, but not enough to do anything right then. You might have to put some more sand in like every 6 monthes to a year.

 

[Managuense]

do you use HOB filters or canisters?
M

 

[Brockway]

I know this isn't about the topic, but cool user pic managuense! lmao
And on the topic, I use coral sand in my tanks. Its acts like gravel (larger pieces) but has the cool sand look (but not exactly like play sand cause of the larger bits) Its may not be good for yours though since you are doing an amazon tank and might need relatively soft water (the coral raises your ph).

 

[Flex26]

Cichlid-Man raises a good point. Do you plan to use live plants? If so, then gravel laced with laterite is the way to go. The problem with sand from HD or Lowe's is that the sand doesn't have the necessary nutrients for plants to grow. However, there is Onyx sand that contains the necessary nutrients. You can get it at your LFS.

Here is a thread:

http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5128

Hope it helps.