Planted Tanks With Sand Bottoms

[BioHazard]

Mel~I've had the same problem! I have been scooping black sand out! Suggestions anyone?

Here's my little 10 gallon. I don't know why it always looks so green in photos!

I would get some trumpet snails. I NEVER have any trouble, between my kuhli loaches and trumpet snails.

 

[CrimsonBlush]

I would get some trumpet snails. I NEVER have any trouble, between my kuhli loaches and trumpet snails.

I would love to get snails, but I do not want hundreds of them....haha any kind of snail that won't have tons of babies? Also would snails interfere with my hairgrass?

 

[Lycanthropic]

I have a tank with a playsand bottom and plants. I think it looks perfect as I am going for the mangrove, swampy look. I will post a pic later.

 

[IceH2O]

Won't post all the pics but here is a link to my tanks. The 75 gallon has been sand since the start and you can see the progress of how its gone thru the years. I haven't stirred my sand, I use MTS but I haven't seen any in a while,think the loaches finally got them all so I'll need to replenish or start stirring. If you have enough plants they should help though as the roots break up the sand compaction.

www.aquariacentral.com/forums...ad.php?t=68550

 

[DeeDeeK]

I use california blackworms to keep my sand open and oxygenated. I also have some mts and a couple of kuhli loaches who love to dig for worms much more than they love to eat my snails! I NEVER stir or vacuum, haven't for three years.

I KNOW it looks like gravel. That's 'cause I spilled some in there and a little sits on top. I swear it's all sand otherwise.

 

[IceH2O]

I should look into california blackworms. Sand stirring and live food all in one.

They come out at night or ever? Everything in my tank would eat them so the population can't get out of hand.

 

[DeeDeeK]

My cali blackworms when first introduced to the tank spend most of their time with their heads down in the sand and their tails in the air, erm water. They eat bacteria and gunk down into the mildly anaerobic layers and stick their tails up to get oxygen.

However, after they've been acclimated to tank life (as opposed to worm-farm life), they hide a lot more. Their tails still stick out from time to time, 24/7. It's fun to watch fishes trying to sneak up on them and snatch 'em up. I think the fish benefit from the stimulation.

They do reproduce but they've never outstripped my fishes appetites so I have to buy a buck's worth every month or so and dump 'em in.

pictured are some newly introduced worms in dwarf hairgrass