Sand, Gravel or maybe both??

[repsolblade]

What do you suggest? amount? type?

 

[stezatois]

We have a 4'long 1'wide tank and used about 40lbs of playsand and about 35lbs of a small natural mixed gravel. for a good deep substrate, but 1lb per gallon will give about an inch of substrate as a general rule.

pics of ours can be found here http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162959

if that helps any

 

[repsolblade]

That looks great, very similar to what I'm looking for, I don't want a totally planted aquarium, but a mixture of both, have added some plants and larva rock and also a nice piece of rock with wonderful colours, pics to follow. hopefully I can get some gravel to enhance the look of black sand.

 

[stezatois]

Thanks, we have more plants to add, but the thing we were really going for was deeper at the back to mainly plant the rear of the aquarium. And hit the airstone bar under the gravel to hide it away from view but still keep the asthetics of the bubbles.

I like bubble walls

 

[DAVIDFBT]

Many people use sand for the bottom of aquariums, its cheap, easy to maintain, and looks good.

Pros of sand:
Cheaper than gravel if you buy the 3 dollars 50# bags.
IME, when plants root down, they can have a pretty strong hold to it.
Bottom dwellers will love you for switching to sand.
The poo stays on the surface making it easier to clean.

Cons of sand:
The poo stays on the surface makiing it unsightly.
Depending on the type of sand, you may have to spend a lot of time rinsing it.
If you don't stir it up every once in a while, bubbles of noxious gas build up under it.

In the end, I would rather use sand on my tanks than gravel.

 

[abstract37]

how often should the sand be stirred?

 

[jpappy789]

I do it once a week with my water changes...