Gravel Or Sand?

Question

What is the difference between these two materials, except for the obvious (Amount, how big it is, wat it looks like, ETC).

Answer 1

Sand is easier to clean because the poop just sits on top, you don't have to search for it (like you would if it fell in between cracks in the gravel). To vacuum sand, you just hover the siphon above the sand, the sand is denser than the poop, so the snad stays, and the poop goes. Sand also looks more natural, and fish will prefer it (there aren't fish that absolutely need gravel, many Cichlids are avid diggers and sand will display their natural digging instincts. Sand and gravel need to be washed thoroughly before being put in the tank because all loose sand will end up in your filter. Using coral sand can raise your pH, so if you plan on coral sand, adjust the fish slowly to the higher pH. Playsand (for sand boxes) is another great type of sand that will not affect your pH. You can get it at a hardware store for about $3 for a 10 pound bag. Since sand doesn't trap water like gravel does, you need about 2 pounds of sand per gallon of water, or 1 pound of gravel per gallon of water (that only applies to standard shaped tanks). Plants will have an easier time growing in sand and you will find that sand, looks nicer and cleaner than some gaudily colored gravel. Good luck!

Nosoop4u

Answer 2

Well the substrate that you choose will depend a lot upon what you will be putting in the tank. Sand is a better choice if you plan on having a planted tank, though they will grow in gravel just fine. Sand is also good for some south American setups IE for corycats and some "earth eating" dwarf cichlids. Sand is also recommended for any other species that like to burrow such as certain loaches.

Sand is a poor choice if you have an under-gravel filter. Gravel is a good choice for many fish that don't burrow. So I guess it depends on what you want to keep and what looks best to you.

Answer 3

The pros of sand:

It's very easy to keep clean - since waste doesn't sink into it the way it does gravel, you can just run a hose over the top of the sand and syphon out the fish waste off the top.

It's excellent for bottom dwellers because food will sit on top where they and other fish can easily find it. It's smooth nature is also easy on the barbs of more delicate catfish, and easy to dig through for certain fish like many cichlids.

Since the waste doesn't sink in, the tank remains cleaner overall, acting more like a bare bottom tank in this respect, where with gravel it sinks in to be out of sight and mind, and it takes a lot of vacuuming to get it all.

The cons:

Sand that runs through a hanging power filter will scratch the impeller and make it very noisy. This means you need to shut it off during maintenance and keep the intake well off the bottom, or go with a more sand friendly filter like canister or sponge.

Undergravel filters can't be used with sand - it is too dense and renders it useless.

Since waste doesn't get trapped into it like with gravel, there can be be more floating particulate in a sand tank, especialy with weaker filtration, which can be annoying to some fish keepers and give the wrong idea that the water is 'dirty'.

Sand can be very dusty when first bought, so it takes a lot of rinses to make sure it doesn't cloud up the tank when you put it in. Once properly cleaned though, it looks fantastic.

Answer 4

Sand is a great substrate, but it can clog your filters impeller. So when you clean your tank, make sure you shut off your filter. And if you have feisty puffers, they may kick up the sand too. I have always preferred gravel just because sand is harder to clean. But sand would look great in a tank. I guess it's just a matter of personal taste.

Answer 5

well it depends on what you plan on keeping and is it freshwater or saltwater. gravel is much easier to keep clean while sand is much harder. if you plan to keep freshwater rays than sand is preferable. if you have a marine tank than crushed coral known as live sand is better because it has some of the beneficial bacteria that will nuetralize the amonia and keep nitrates in line.

Answer 6

I always liked the look of natural pebbles in my aquarium as opposed to colored gravel. Also, a sheet of black posterboard makes a very nice background for an aquarium.

Answer 7

depends on the fish.