SAND OR GRAVEL

[tobestarrr]

hello all thanks for viewing my thread!

i really do like the look of sand more than gravel but how do you clean it?

i really wanna find out asap so then i can get ready to put it in my new tank(on wed)

hope you can all help


thanks

tobestarrr

[J double R]

sand can be easier to clean than gravel, as you don't stir it with a gravel vac.. you vacuum the debris off the top of it, and then stir it with some chopsticks gently, so it doesnt compact and create gas pockets...

another option is to cut slots into the end of a gravel vac, and use that as a stirring mechanism. :)

[BoredAgain]

Sand is my preference, much easier to clean in my opinion.

[tobestarrr]

dont you just hover the syphon thing over it instead on on it like gravel?

[DAVIDFBT]

That's what J double R said, so yes.

[b.greene]

How often do you need to stir to make sure the gas pockets don't form?

[Riiz]

I do it once per week, after I vaccum the top of the sand.

[Plecosterone]

I never stir the sand and have no problems at all. I do not believe it is a problem at all. If anyone has had any gas pocket problems I would like to hear from them. My fish are happy and they seem to live forever...lol. I only vacuum for looks and do PWC every 2 - 3 weeks. Just don't overfeed and have a good clean up crew (otos, corys. farlowellas, snails etc).

[BoredAgain]

I never stir the sand and have no problems at all. I do not believe it is a problem at all. If anyone has had any gas pocket problems I would like to hear from them. My fish are happy and they seem to live forever...lol. I only vacuum for looks and do PWC every 2 - 3 weeks. Just don't overfeed and have a good clean up crew (otos, corys. farlowellas, snails etc).
I never stir either. But I also have some MTS that may help. I've also never heard of anyone personally having a problem.

[JuanitoW]

I just got pool sand to replace my gravel. I prefer the look of sand to gravel. I used pool sand so it was a lot cheaper than LFS gravel that's for sure :).

[Riiz]

I never stir either. But I also have some MTS that may help. I've also never heard of anyone personally having a problem.


Yeah I've been afraid to get MTS, my clown loach would destroy them so fast. So I stir for good measure.

[tobestarrr]

is black sand nicer than black fine gravel?

[Rbishop]

There are several threads on here about the "gas bubbles" escaping from a deep snad bed...