Sand or graval

[goldene]

Hi anyone, I have just got a new larger tank for my goldfish and have always used gravel but I was thinking of changing to it to sand what do you think?

[avoxo]

Hi goldene, my preference over the years has been to use gravel but my last tank I am going with a bare bottom. Just got tired of all the problems gravel created.

[goldene]

Thanks Avoxo :) I dont really like bare bottom tanks, I know its easier to keep clean and graval can be a pain, So we decided to go with the sand even though I was abit unsure, all I can say is its a pain to wash 'trying not to lose half of it' but now it is in the tank with some wood it looks really nice, not like sand we have at the beach here, its more like small golden cristles with bits of black in ( it reminds me of sherbert :cool: ) We haven't finished setting it up yet it took most of the day just to clean the sand' the hard part will be leaving it to cycle before putting my fish in out of the 4ft tank, The new tank is 150x50x70 my 4ft tank looks tiny compared, it takes some getting use to, I will post a photo later when its all set up and the fish are in it if you would like to see it? The tank could not go with a bare bottom as the bottom comes doubled with plywood and thermic isolation so you would see the white through it 'just thought Id mention that'

[avoxo]

I would like to see pictures of it when you have it set up later on.

[goldene]

Thanks, I will post a photo when its all set up and working

[Blue goldfish]

So you've tried or in the process of trying sand in a goldfish tank?? Great like others have asked please post pictures of how it turned out. I'm seriously thinking of switching to sand myself. The only problem how to keep it out of the Aquaclear filters so it don't mess em up. I have a 55gal and all and i thought that would be a big task. What's the gallons of the one you described??? I wish i had a tank that big!!! I bets it beatiful. Also do u know of a place online or local (near Columbia or Nashville, TN) that i can find a tank of that size?? Thanks

Well i hope it turns out good :D

[goldene]

Thanks for your input Blue goldfish (love the name :D ) My tank is made by RENA AQUARIUMS, If you do a search on google it should come up, mine is the Aqualife classic 150 in cherry, It comes complete with external filter, 2 heaters, 4 bulbs 2 Light fittings and lid, I got it from my local aquatics a bit cheeper, But it will give you something to go on, I will ask my husband to post a photo for me later tonight, I have only been using sand for 2 weeks and I think it looks nicer than gravel, the fish got a shock at first as they got a mouthfull when grubing around, but they soon got use to it and seem so natural with it now, if your filter does not sit on the tank bottom the sand should not get into it, I have not noticed any problems with mine yet, I put my old inside filter complete with bacteria in the new tank so that I could put my fish in without having to wait for the new outside filter to build up the bacteria needed and so far everything is ok.

[goldene]

Hi :) as promised my new tank photo :D Bluegoldfish I think its 434 ltrs aproximatly 115 gallons, we filled it with a hose so ?' but taking the sand and wood into concideration about 400 ltr's.
I am not impressed as I had to put my 2 'That I think are female' fancy fish and 1 comet back into my 4ft tank as the 5 goldfish in the new tank are all males showing tubicals and will not stop chasing the other 3 grr I was sure they were all male, but they kept harrassing the other 3 who are not showing tubicals, they have all been fine but this year they have gone mad :eek:

http://static.photobox.co.uk/public/images/01/99/5630199.s.jpg

[avoxo]

Great looking tank and fish, thanks for the pic.

Breeding for goldfish has certain steps that need to be taken for them to be in the "mood".

1. Temperature, if the tank has been lower than 65-60 degrees for even a short period of time, this will cause the fish to think that it has become winter. In turn causing them to almost hibernate. Lowering their hormones, making them eating a little less, becoming less active.

2. Feeding, continued feeding when the temps. were lowered will make them think that the winter period is coming to an end because of the food source is abundant. Even though it is cold.

3 Temps. and feeding, when the temperature is raised and the food source is still there they will think that it is spring which is the best time to mate. Causing all sorts of problems if you do not want fry.

Try to hand strip the female, no eggs no mating.

[goldene]

Thanks Avoxo, There are no sign of eggs, thats why I thought they were all male, the 2 fancys are round but that is their normall shape but no eggs as yet that I can tell, since I put the comet in the 4ft with them it seems happy (not getting chased) even that looks no different to the 5 males in shape, 4 of the males I have had for 3 and a half years the 3 in the 4ft tank I got 3 months later all were tiddles when bought, the youngest male My daughter got a year ago 'quite small' thats showing tubicals, I have been keeping goldfish as a hobby 30 years + (but still learning all the time) and only once have they produced fry and that was years ago with different fish. unless they eat them before I noticed :confused:

[Dean]

make shure you stir the sand when you do water changes.

[goldene]

cheers dean :) I use a gravel vac so it stirs the sand up as it suckes the muck up, plus the fish do that too when grubbing around.

[DeVitaf]

I use sand in my 50 gallon tank. I prefer the look over gravel. The only thing i have found so far that I don't like is how visible the debris is. My 8" Flower horn leaves giant turds rolling across my sand like tumble weeds. If I am not in there every other day vacuming them out it can look quite gross :p.

[goldene]

I know, but I guess its easier to suck up the gunk than it sink down into the gravel like it use to in my other tank,