What is better for aquariums, sand or gravel?

Question

125 gal tank to hold 2 Oscars & plecostomus.

Answer 1

It's interesting to see these responses and wonder if they've even tried sand. I'll immediately say that you cannot use sand with an under-gravel filter, but with your tank I highly doubt this is an issue.

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, rather then sinking into the gravel to rot. Because my tanks are beach sand (bought, not collected), vacuuming is nothing more then syphoning out from a few areas where it collects every month or so (super easy with big Oscar turds), and there is no waste buildup at all in my tanks no matter how long they run. The power filter holds all the bacteria the tank needs, so talk about 'needing' gravel for this purpose is misconstrued.

And, like gravel, only some sands, like coral sand or aragonite, raise the ph - most sand is actually perfectly neutral.

I personally will never go back to gravel, both because of ease of maintenance and because sand looks so much more natural.

In the end it's up to you, they both have pros and cons. Until you try them both you'll never know which is better for YOU.

Digging cichlids love it and I rarely have to clean it: http://f3.yahoofs.com/users/42ad9ff5zea8adf7b/dd21/__sr_/d6a0.jpg?phw5UtFB4UxRkvqy

Answer 2

First off since it is a valuable piece of information here and has to be mentioned, Bob Knows absolutely nothing about fish. As far as sand causing pollution.... well 85%-90% of planted tanks use sand substrate and 99.9% of marine tanks use sand Gravel is cheap and very easy to deal with if you are vacuuming. Sand is far superior of a substrate. Gravel allows fish poo and uneaten food to settle into it where it rots and becomes nitrate unless regularly cleaned. With sand, the uneaten food and poo or other waste will remain on the top making it easy to clean. There are two methods to clean sand, you can use one method or both. Vacuum the sand by waving the gravel vac in small circles just a couple inches above the sand. This will cause lighter waste to rise up and get vacuumed. A power head as well as other flow creator such as flow from your filter can blow debris off the sand into the water column where it can be collected by the filter. The sand from super naturals is a very good sand. I use the Tahitian moon sand from super naturals in my reef tank. Most of these sands as far as I know are very inert making them ideal for both fresh and salt water. There should be no reason to "replenish" sand. If vacuuming and you suck some up, then pinch the hose so it settles out of the vac tube.

Answer 3

In a fresh water tank you are better off going with gravel. (Much easier to clean and won't clog your freshwater filters) Oscars are pretty easy fish to care for. They can tolorate a wide range of habitat and foods. Actually they will eat what ever you give them and be happy and healthy. They are abundant in the marsh areas of Florida, yes I said Florida. They can tolorate a sandy bottom quite well, so what ever you choose, it will be ok. Both have advantages and disadadvantages. If you are using an undergravel filter, I would not suggest a sand bottom. Sand will not allow waste to "stick" to the bottom and using a syphon sucks up more sand than it is worth. Since the sand is lighter than the waste. I have both and honestly, unless you prefer to spend TIME cleaning, go with a natural gravel. Especially if your fish are agressive and attack you while cleaning.

Additional:

SPAWNING HABITS – Spawning normally takes place on flat, solid surfaces when water temperatures warm to 82-91oF; female typically lays about 3,000 eggs and both parents occasionally seen guarding hundreds of young in shallow water along shorelines.

FEEDING HABITS - Feed primarily on small fish, insects, and crustaceans.

Answer 4

It depends on what kind of fish you have. Sand is supposed to be for African Cichlids and saltwater fish. Gravel is for the rest. You should use gravel but if you wanted to use sand that would probably be ok. Just pay attention to the hardness of the water. The sand could raise the pH.

Answer 5

Gravel because sand will make the tank kinda cloudy and the fish will die if it can't breathe clean water.

Answer 6

I would say gravel because it is alot easier to clean. All you would have to do is use a syphon to clean the gravel. But for sand on the other hand you would have to take all the sand out and clean it. There are some cool looking gravel. But sand looks the best but it is alot harder to clean and it looks alot better if you have a salt water fish tank

Answer 7

Sand is almost impossible to keep clean. And it clogs under gravel filters. You COULD do it, but not without a lot more work. Even salt water tanks are better off with crushed coral rather than sand. Don't do it.

Answer 8

gravel

Answer 9

gravel