Earlier today I posted a question about some fishy questions I had. One of the answers prompted me to take a trip to Petsmart on my break (don't go telling me how bad Petsmart is and how I need to go to a good fish dealer. I'm working on it. ;-)~ Any help is appreciated). Anyways, I went there to check out the availability of getting used gravel from their tanks, and they are going to help me out with that.
I just want to know what I should put that gravel into. Their gravel is brown and mine is blue, so I don't want to just dump it into my tank, cause I don't want to have to pick it all out later. I was thinking about cutting the foot part off of a pair of nylon hose and putting the gravel in there and putting it in my tank (after washing the hose in water...or even tank water during a water change). Are the tiny holes in the hose big enough for bacteria to move in and out through, or is there a better idea out there somewhere. Thanks for putting up with me and my silly questions
2007-03-30 09:47:38 · 5 answers · asked by Becca 5 in Pets ➔ Fish
P.S. It's a 55 gallon tank. How much gravel should I get it make it worth it?
2007-03-30 10:03:27 · update #1
The used nylons will be a perfect container for the used gravel. I would however suggest you place a bag in the tank as well as a small bag in the filter behind your filter pad. This will allow the bacteria to colonize your filter as well as your gravel. As to how much, any amount will help and the more the better. Treat the gravel as you would a fish, plenty of water and plenty of air in the bag. Don't allow it to get too hot or too cold etc, etc.
The only negative that comes to mind is the possibility of moving diseases along with the bacteria that you want. If you don't yet have fish in the tank, then it's not a real concern, but if you do, you will need to watch them closely for a week or two. Nothing against your source of gravel, that would be true for any store.
Glad to help with any questions any time, no such thing as a silly question when you really want an answer.
Oh, and obviously washing or boiling the gravel would kill the very bacteria you want so I would say a huge no to that idea.
MM
2007-03-30 10:26:18 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
We are not going to say anything bad about any store, because you will find knowledgable people in the chain stores as well as in the aquarium shops - you just have to look for them.
The gravel in my tanks is 3-4 inches high since all my tanks are planted. If you keep live plants, you want finer gravel for the roots to work thru easier. Don't worry about the bacteria because they will grow anywhere. Smaller gravel does not let food particles disappear between the grains - with larger, coarser gravel you have to vacuum better so nothing rots.
I myself prefer natural colored gravel because this is how it looks in nature. But if you like the blues..., go ahead, it is your tank after all. Why do you want to cover your blue gravel with some sort of fabric or mesh? Just place enough new gravel on top to cover it up. This way you can always do deep cleaning of gravel when necessary.
No question is silly, so keep on asking.
2007-04-02 23:05:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you have a canister filter? Put the gravel in your stocking and put it in there. A cup or so is plenty. Remember if you do this (it's called "seeding" the filter) you need somthing living in your tank to keep the bacteria alive or it will die of staravation virtualy straight away. Get a goldfish or a danio and put it in once the gravel is where you want it. (in the tank works too). Also you have 1 hour tops to get the gravel to your house from the shop and a fish into the tank otherwise the bacteria will die. Keep the gravel submerged (wet) on the way home and do not boil it, defeats the whole purpose!
2007-03-30 17:30:41 · answer #3 · answered by roberto 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Nylon should be fine in a tank, (bacteria are WAY smaller than the mesh) but the easiest thing to do would be to move all your blue rocks to one side, and put the brown rocks on the other side. You can do a landscaping thing. I have black and white gravel set up this way, and it looks really cool.
They will mix in the middle, but for the most part they should stay separate.
Whatever you do, make sure you clean the gravel really well. (I might even boil it.)
2007-03-30 16:59:43 · answer #4 · answered by captflapdoodle 3 · 1⤊ 4⤋
I don't think you should boil your gravel from the pet store it might kill the bacteria you want.
2007-03-30 17:21:39 · answer #5 · answered by Jackp1ne 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋