substrates, Your opinion

What is better

  • Gravel

    Votes: 64 57.1%
  • Sand

    Votes: 35 31.3%
  • Other (please specify)

    Votes: 13 11.6%

  • Total voters
    112
HAve never tried anything but gravel, I do prefer small gravel to large though. I will someday have a stingray tank and will probably use a coarse sand when that day comes but until then it's gravel for me.
Dave
 
daveedka said:
HAve never tried anything but gravel, I do prefer small gravel to large though. I will someday have a stingray tank and will probably use a coarse sand when that day comes but until then it's gravel for me.
Dave

For keeping stingrays, I'd recommend sand. When I got my 1st ray, I had sand. For some reason (I chose to forget) I changed it for gravel and their behavior was not the same. They seemed like scared all the time.

Once again, I had to shed the bucks and bought sand, did all the change and they are now calm again. If something scares them, the will inmediately bury and stay there until "danger" has passed.

Patoloco said:
I like sand better if there are fish that like to bury.
 
I use a combination of the two it has a really natural look to it. i live in the sandhills of nebraska and there are lots of gravel pits arround where i live so can easily get any size of sand/gravel free without the chance of it having chemicals in it.
 
Hannys_Papa said:
I dont mean to HJ this thread but it seemed to go downhill a bit anyways. Maybe i could add a question that concerns gravel/ sand:

Is flourite corycat safe ? (wearing out their barbels etc)
I have had corycats in my flourite tank for 3 months.

Fu, my peppered corycat, has VERY long barbels. Longest I've seen on a cory and that's why he got named Fu (Fu Manchu :p: ). He's my oldest cat and I've seen no wear and tear or anything. In fact, none of my corycats show any barbel damage at all. I check them quite often because I'd read that rough and sharp substrates can hurt them. I'm starting to think that that's another myth.

Roan
 
Great info Roan. Some people swear up and down that (rough) gravel hurts them so i was unsure. I am planning for my next tank and because i really want some cories i wanted to get very fine smooth gravel - but i think i'll mix it 50/50 with flourite to give the plants a better substrate. (Now the next big Q is - red or brown flourite ? LOL)

In reply to the thread - only gravel here. I've seen beautiful sand tanks - but i've also seen some with "dirt" on the (light coloured) sand which made the sand look really ugly. But what do i know..... ;)
 
I made sure by gravel was rounded, no sharp eadges, I had 2 conch shells in there too before I lost a Blue Gourami to it as it swam to the very top thinking it could make it out, broke the shell underwater, It was dead in a day, then the shells came out, I need to post a link to pictures of my aquarium..
 
Hannys_Papa said:
Great info Roan. Some people swear up and down that (rough) gravel hurts them so i was unsure.
Well, I've not heard from anyone who can say their water was perfect and had barbel damage from "rough" substrate. Most of what I've read came from people who bought them damaged or had water issues.

I am planning for my next tank and because i really want some cories i wanted to get very fine smooth gravel - but i think i'll mix it 50/50 with flourite to give the plants a better substrate. (Now the next big Q is - red or brown flourite ? LOL)
That's sorta what I was going to do. Lemme find the link. . . ah, here is what I'm planning on doing: http://www.plantedtank.net/sandsubstrate.html
I want sand for the top for my kuhli loaches so they can bury themselves.

I'm not using the "regular" play sand that everyone else uses. I'm using a different type that I used for our bearded dragon cage. Dragons can become impacted so you have to be careful what you use for them. Didn't like the reptile sand, so I found this stuff. I still have 25 pounds left. This stuff is SO awesome and it sparkles like crazy: http://www.safesand.com

I suppose it's rather expensive, 50 pounds for $50 (includes shipping) as compared to buying regular play sand, but it also contains no silica or quartz. They have their MSDS sheet on line. It also comes in colors, if you are bold :)

Roan
 
Interesting idea - i wish the pics would be bigger or show the substrate a bit more close up.
I always read about your other tanks but the only one you ever show is the 6G with Jakers - whats up with that ? We need more pics !!!!!! ;)
 
Hannys_Papa said:
Interesting idea - i wish the pics would be bigger or show the substrate a bit more close up.
I always read about your other tanks but the only one you ever show is the 6G with Jakers - whats up with that ? We need more pics !!!!!! ;)
ROFL! Waiting for the plants to grow out a bit. I personally think that until the plants grow out, the tank has no "personality". I love a well grown planted tank. Once my amazons at the back of the tank are visible, I'll start taking pictures :)

Roan
 
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