What kind of gravel?

Question

I want to know which kind of gravel is better for my freswater tank, rock(real gravel) or crystal rocks. Does the real gravel help keep the tank clean? Does the real gravel make the water dirty? I need a website to be shure.

Is a undergravel filter important to keep the tank clean?

Answer 1

I use natural gravel, usually white or brown and a size to the Tank size. My 2,5, and 10 gallons have the small stuff and my 20, 30 and 50 gallons get big, I just buy landscaping gravel and wash it good to remove dirt as even store bought needs washed. I use a Colander or whatever it call, it in the Kitchen and used to drain water off Noodles and stuff.
The under-gravel filter is a time proved filter and will work as it pulls stuff down in the gravel. Use a Gravel Siphon to clean it easy and you get some dirt out and the opportunity to change some water. I also use a Bio-Filter that hangs on the back of the Aquarium and just has a tube in the water. The Bio-Filters were given to me is only reason I use them.
DO NOT use granite for gravel!

Answer 2

Gravel is gravel, go with what you like. Larger gravel allows more water flow through it, and in turn more oxygen and more bacteria growth with an under-gravel filter.

If you have a power filter then you do not need an under-gravel filter and I don't recommend it. I remember back when I started keeping fish and UGF was the way to go. Man, the waste just builds up under those plates and becomes a very successful nitrate factory. Many people stick to the 'tried and true', and under-gravel filters do work, but technology has given us cleaner, easier to maintain options, why not use them.

I'll probably get shunned for this from people who never tried it themselves, but the cleanest substrate for a tank is Sand. See, sand is so dense that waste can't sink into it - instead it floats around until it is eventually picked up by the power filter, where it can be easily disposed of. Because my tanks are beach sand (bought, not collected), vacuuming is nothing more then syphoning out from a few collected areas every month or so, and there is no waste buildup at all in my tanks. Some people will tell you you can't use sand, but ten years experience shows me quite the opposite. The power filter holds all the bacteria the tank needs, so talk about 'needing' gravel for this purpose is also bogus.

Good luck with your choice either way, and remember - don't over complicate what isn't a problem in the first place. Big gravel, small gravel, sand, power filters, under-gravel filters - the reason all of them are used by some fish keepers is because they all have their pros and cons.

Answer 3

As far as gravel goes, it is a matter ofpreference and types of fish you choose to put in your tank. Some fish require a "rocky" bottom. Check out information on what type of fish you are looking into buying. No the gravel does nothing for keeping the tank clean or dirty. However the more porus the rock the easier algae has to attach itself. Real is always best. Try to immulate the fish's natural environment. Remember when buying rock, use your aquarium bucket (the one that has not been used for anything else) to clean (wash) your gravel before you put it into your tank. I use a strainer. That way all the dust particles and dirt rinse thru the strainer and the gravel / rock is clean.

An undergravel filter with a power head is always a great idea and does a couple of things. Just remember this does NOT take the place of your regular filter. It is in addition to. Anyone or anyweb page telling you differently doesn't know fish. First it draws fish waste and excess foods to the bottom of the tank. THis keeps the bacteria levels basically in check. It also is great for the circulation of the water in your tank. Most of all because it "pulls" debris to the bottom of the tank, it makes water changes with your syphon so much easier.

There are a million sites for fish and rocks. Search yahoo or google.

http://www.fishlore.com/FirstTankSetup.htm

Answer 4

The best gravel is gravel that is a neutral colour and attends to the needs of the fish that will be housed in it (ie will a catfish's barbels be safe when it is scavenging the gravel all day?)
Neutral colour will hide most of the waste that is dropped onto it.
An undergravel filter will only pull the waste down further into the gravel, you need a good powerhead to maintain the water underneath the filter otherwise waste will build up. I don't use undergravel filters, i maintain the food that is given to my fish so there is reduced waste and the water stays cleaner. A good gravel Vacuum is what you need, they are cheaper and do the same job!

Answer 5

An undergravel filter will clean the tank just as much as any filter. It doesn't help any more than any other filter. Many people will say that they do not work too great compared to other filters. It is a matter of personal preference really.

I would not use crystal rocks because it has sharp edges that could hurt the fish. Any gravel will work, as long as you clean it real well before you put it in the tank.

Answer 6

I wouldn't say, in my personal experience, that there really is any difference, other then cosmetic. I would say the importance lies in how large or small the gravel is, how much you are using and what type of filtration you are using it with. Undergravel filters do a job and sometimes they do it well but they are by no means necessary. Overhang and canister filers are just as efficient but there again it depends on the type of fish you are housing and how large the tank is and yada, yada. Best bet, get a book and study.

Answer 7

Carefully cleaned real gravel is the best,because it provides the most surface area for the beneficial bacteria to grow on. -----PeeTee