Substrate Mixture

[Forum221]

Hey,
I am in the process of getting a new 75 gallon Cichlid tank and I am stuck on the question of substrate. I want somthing sandy that the fish can dig in and looks good, but I don't want it to stir up real easy and I would want to be able to gravel vac it. I'm thinking that I will have a mixture of Pea Gravel and Sand. Will this work? I want my substrate to be about 4 inches deep so I think I will start with mostly pea gravel at the bottom and slowly add more sand as i go up. Any suggestions?

[125gJoe]

Just my preference, but I think a finer substrate looks the best. Most debris will lay on top of the "sand" while large gravel seems to hold particles in it. However, any good suction of a vacuum will work to get rid of debris.

[wetmanNY]

I was impressed with what one Dutch aquarist did in a huge aquarium to house Middle-American digging cichlids! http://www.cichlid.nl/ The mixed substrate here looks terrific, and I like the bold wood too.
I thought you should see this, Forum 221.

[125gJoe]

I couldn't link to a "Ooops never mind.."...but wanted to see the pics..

[Faramir]

IME, the sand all ends up at the bottom.

[beviking]

That's what would concern me, the small stuff always settles down and the larger stuff always works its way up. Kinda negative gravity thing.

[wetmanNY]

"Forum221" is the original postrer, Joe. Sorry. At the Dutch site, hit the American flag to get the English version, and then choose "Decoration" from the menu at the left. Sorry I wasn't more explicit.

It was a huge project, well handled!

[Anaxus]

I did the same thing joe, untill I relised the poster was forum 221.
That guy has a very impressive set up

[Forum221]

Hey,
That is a real cool looking cichlid tank. I understand what you are saying about the sand sinking below the pea gravel. If i end up using all sand, will I still be able to gravel vac? Also does the sand get stirred up alot?

P.S.
Sorry about the confusion with my screen name

[Forum221]

Anyone?
Can I stil gravel vac with my python if I have all sand?

[Heady]

I use my Python on my 20-gallon Lake Tanganyika tank, and the substrate is all black sand. It may depend on your water pressure; for me, the sand acts just like the gravel does when it's vacuumed... you know, stirring up about a third of the way up the python tube but no more.

The thing to watch out for when Python-ing sand is to make sure all the sand has floated back out of the tube before you lift it up to stop the suction. Otherwise it will go down your sink, which can mess up the pipes and/or garbage disposal.

[Forum221]

Excelent. My only concern with sand was that I couldnt gravel vac.
Thanks

[125gJoe]

Ooops, I'm going to look around that wesite again. I couldn't find the pics the 1st time..