Gravel/Sand bottom.

[SimonWoodstock]

I am considering either taking out, or moving half of the gravel in my tank over to one side and having a half and half gravel/sand bottom. I want to do this because i think my Banjo Cat is getting scraped from rubbing on the rocks at the bottom. (Im not sure that is what it is, so anyone wanting to give suggestions on that check out my post in the cat/bottom feeder forum please) I may eventually get a few more and set up my other spare 10gal. with a sand bottom just for those guys...they are just too cool.

Anyway, ill get on with my questions.

1. Does sand make fish waste stick out like a neon sign? Are there any suggestions on colors of sand that would make it less noticeable until i cant vacuum it out?

2. I have some bags of sand i guess are from lowes or somewhere that are in plastic bags, would this work?

3. Anyone that has added sand to a gravel tank have any suggestions on how to do it? Tips, no no's, anything like that.

Thanks

 

[Sum-X]

I have sand in my 29 gallon.

Normal play sand from Lowes isnt a good idea, mostly because it's usually a fine grain sand, and can get sucked into the filter. I would suggest finding "Pool Filter Sand", it is a thick grain that wont get thrown around.

When ready to add it to the tank, set it in Hot water in a bucket over night. This will make it less cloudy for when you add it in.

As regards to fish waste, I hardly ever see it lieing around on the sand, so its not that distinguishable.

There are many different colors, but the only ones I like are Onyx (Black) and standard (White/Tan).

Oh, and if you're used to gravel syphoning, just sticking the nosel down into the substrate, you can't do that with sand, or else it will be sucked up of course.

 

[demon_surfer]

just so you know the sand will just sink below the gravel and become a health problem. you need to go whole hog and have just sand or just gravel mixing doesnt work good in aquariums.

 

[WaterBaby]

I have a "sand trap" for my cories in my 20L. I took a 6" bottom to a terracotta pot and put about a quarter inch of aquarium sand in it. The lip of the tray kinda prevents the sand from spilling out all over the gravel (that is until someone spooks one of the cories and they make a sand storm while fleeing the area).

It's easy to clean... I just stir it up a little and the waste (if any) floats to the filter intake. It's not deep, but I find that 1/4" is all they need.

 

[WaterBaby]

Here's a pic of the "sand trap":

 

[SimonWoodstock]

Wow, that is perfect!! Waterbaby, did you come up with that idea yourself?, if so you are a genious!! That will save me sooo much time and trouble, i already have a pot bottom that will be perfect for him. All i have i have to do is clean it up. I will try this method out to see if it helps his scrapes any, if not i will just devote a 10 gal. for him and maybe a betta or something.

Everybody else that responded, i had no idea it would mix like that. If it wasnt for this forum i could have had a problem.

thanks

edit* oh yeah, i almost used play sand. that is what i had in bags. but its pretty cheap, ill go pick some up this weekend. thanks

 

[DeVitaf]

Originally posted by Sum-X
As regards to fish waste, I hardly ever see it lieing around on the sand, so its not that distinguishable.

My 8" flower horn leaves turds the size of my pinky on the sand substrate . My wife hates it .