sand
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patoloco
De seguro no sabes lo que dice aqu
Using sand as your substrate can be great looking as well as tricky.
First of all, you must decide in using natural sand (from a river or sea, if marine) or buying a comercialy prepared sand. I'd go for the last to avoid parasites and/or pollution. If you go for the natural, it has to be washed througly before putting it in your tank. Have your sand soaked at least one day BEFORE using it, so it will not have air bubbles to float to the surface.
Second, when using sand, you will not be able to use and undergravel filter, since the sand will block the water passages. Instead, depending on your needs, you'll have to go for another method of filtration (hanging power filter or canister). It's important to have no floating sand for these kind of filter will pick it and may be damaged after a while (it happened to me)
Third consideration is cleaning. Using a gravel cleaner to vaccum sand requires a lot more patience because you will likely pick up some sand if you do it too fast. Also, when cleaning, you must stir the sand to avoid the formation of anaerobic bacteria colonies the may be troublesome. Also, plants in sand are more easily uprooted by fishes like goldfish, kois and gouramis. (My goldfish is a gardener himself)
I use sand in my main tank where I keep my 2 stingrays, for these rascals like to bury themselves sometimes and I didn't like the other substrates.
Take care, and I hope this was some help. Sorry for any misspeling. Not too good in english.
First of all, you must decide in using natural sand (from a river or sea, if marine) or buying a comercialy prepared sand. I'd go for the last to avoid parasites and/or pollution. If you go for the natural, it has to be washed througly before putting it in your tank. Have your sand soaked at least one day BEFORE using it, so it will not have air bubbles to float to the surface.
Second, when using sand, you will not be able to use and undergravel filter, since the sand will block the water passages. Instead, depending on your needs, you'll have to go for another method of filtration (hanging power filter or canister). It's important to have no floating sand for these kind of filter will pick it and may be damaged after a while (it happened to me)
Third consideration is cleaning. Using a gravel cleaner to vaccum sand requires a lot more patience because you will likely pick up some sand if you do it too fast. Also, when cleaning, you must stir the sand to avoid the formation of anaerobic bacteria colonies the may be troublesome. Also, plants in sand are more easily uprooted by fishes like goldfish, kois and gouramis. (My goldfish is a gardener himself)
I use sand in my main tank where I keep my 2 stingrays, for these rascals like to bury themselves sometimes and I didn't like the other substrates.
Take care, and I hope this was some help. Sorry for any misspeling. Not too good in english.
I thought your English was fine, and your post very detailed and informative. I'm guessing from you're username your first language is Spanish?
patoloco
De seguro no sabes lo que dice aqu
Thanks for your compliments. Will keep hitting the books! :read:
And yes, my first language is spanish. I live in Costa Rica.
And yes, my first language is spanish. I live in Costa Rica.