Keeping Sand on top?

[ausername]

Hey for you folks with sand in your tanks I have a quick question.. I want to use gravel substrate of and inch to maybe 2 and top it with sand maybe an inch and a half deep for my plants in the coming soon tank. Do you guys have problems with the sand working its way through the gravel.. Do you just vaccume the tank lightly.. Right now i have fine gravel over medium and its not easy to keep seperated.

 

[Aussie_hippie_2]

It will sift through eventually.

 

[liv2padl]

Right now i have fine gravel over medium and its not easy to keep seperated.

and it will stay that way. the smaller particles will always work their way down between the spaces offered by the larger gravel size.

 

[jm1212]

you could put a fine mesh between the two layers

 

[rosita]

Now THAT'S a good idea!!! :idea:

 

[wataugachicken]

but mesh fine enough to stop sand, then covered by sand, is probably going to lead to the growth of anaerobic bacteria in the bottom layer, which can harm your fish. no water flow, no way to stir substrate, no oxygen.

 

[saganco]

Well in our 55g planted tank, hubby put down flourite first, then sand on top. Now almost 2 years later, it's still MOSTLY sand on the top with only some flourite having come up (mostly due to DH getting a bit aggressive with the gravel vac). So I would have to say based on our experience, it will stay mostly as you lay it out if you don't do like my hubby and try to suck up the bottom glass with the gravel vac :laugh:

Whatever you decide, I'm sure you'll be proud of it and love it!