Is it okay to layer the tank with sand instead of pebbles/small rocks?

Question

Also - live plants - don't they need "soil"? But if you put soil in the fish tank, wouldn't the tank be brownish and dirty?

Please take a look at this clip at youtube..Is that sand and does any one know what's the long green plant is as I want to to read more on live plants.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCfRwO6h4j0#UyHebqM80RE

Answer 1

sand would clog up the filter in your aquarium !! the plants don't need soil,they sprout roots in the water. stick with gravel from the pet store.

Answer 2

That is a beautiful tank. I'd love to know about the maintenance schedule, because it's definitely very heavily stocked.

I've read about sand as substrate in some kinds of tanks, and it can work. The maintenance is a bit different - particularly if the tank is planted, you will need to occasionally probe the sand to make sure pockets of toxic gases from dead plant roots and stuff don't build up.

Sites like www.aquahobby.com may be helpful - you may even encounter this particular aquarist there. It's a pretty popular site.

Answer 3

Larger pea gravel is best. Sand can trap too much of the wrong kind of bacteria making deadly hydrogen sulfide. Its too hard to keep clean. Sand doesn't belong in a fresh water tank. For salt I'd use crushed coral not sand. Skip the sand you'll have nothing but problems. Bare bottom tank is better.
No aquarium plants don't need dirt. Java fern will attach to rocks. All others will grow in the rocks.

Answer 4

That is an advanced discus tank. He has a mixture of river gravel and sand. He probably has fluorite buried in the back for the plants to grow instead of soil. Fluorite can cloud the water for a day or two, but a good cannister filter will remove that. The long plants look like jungle valisneria.

Answer 5

the respond merely placed isn't any!!! observed dirt, timber shavings, bark etc each and every whick out moisture from the air, are abrasive and tend to be very poisonous through they probably being from a tree or plant it is poisonous to hemrit crabs and because those varieties of beddings will harbor bacyeria and strengthen mildew and mildew. by it out now and sparkling the tank nicely with common water with merely a splash distilled vinegar, then rinse and dry nicely and use the two coconut fiber bedding OR sparkling and sifted organic play sand. Rocks and pebbles are additionally not a good choise because of the fact something like it is abrasive to the crab's exoskeleton and if a chew gets down into the shell it may esily decrease the crab's comfortable and uncovered abdomen and kill it.

Answer 6

Its good to keep rocks and pebbles instead of sand.....!!

Because sand can cause trouble to fishes like gold fish and other.

you will need sand for plants of course.........but plant the plants in a small cup with sand and keep it inside the pebbles and rocks.....

Wash the sand with water many times........till when u see no dirt coming out from the sand..........this sand will not become brownish or make the tank dirty......

Answer 7

sand is pritty but sometimes anoying.
i used to have sand in my tank but had to get rid of it. its not worth the hassle.
when you clean the tank the sand rises and stays like that for a few mins.
the fish flick it up every so often.
it can harm some fish when digested.
plants dont need soil.

Answer 8

not good, stick with pebbles! + if the fish touch the bottom of the tank, you wont be able to see the fish for about 3 minutes!