Gravel Vr Sand witch do you recomend?

[MichaelJ2006]

This saltwater fish tank is only going to be holding fish

I do like the way white sand looks although sand is easly stirred and my damage my filtration device. Also, I think my underwater vacum would surly pick it up so I am swaying away from it. I wouldn't mind white gravel but I don't think it would look the same.

Has anyone had problems using sand in their aquiriums?

Has anyone had success using sand? How did you filter it?

 

[AllenFord_SC]

You don't want to use gravel in the tank. Detrius and other things will accumulate in the gravel and reek havoc on your water parameters unless you vacuum and stir it regularly. If this is only a temporary holding tank I would go bare bottom. Many people, including myself use sand with great success. It does not need to be filtered as it actually become part of your filtration.

Read this link for more info.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=732378

 

[MichaelJ2006]

I need to add ground covering to the tank. This tank it decrotive. Should I use an off white sand so that it makes the tank look cleaner? Also many websites say that lb of gravel sould be used per gallon, does this apply to sand as well?

 

[AllenFord_SC]

Depends on if you are going for a shallow or depp sand bed. For shallow 1lb per gallon is pretty acurate. For a DSB 4 - 6" is best. Here is a link to a sand bed calculator.

 

[Recife]

Is it ok to add sand to your tank after it's established? Does it need to be live sand?

 

[lfjewett]

"live sand" from the bag is pretty much a joke. You can add regular sand at anytime even after your tank is established. Be carefull adding "real live sand" from another tank as there is bacteria and annimals in the different stratta of sand that if you mix up during the transfer could die off causeing a mini-cycle. Regular old sand can be added anytime.