Sand VS. Gravel

teevee · 08-25-2008, 11:04 PM

Hi! I'm new to the group but am so glad I found this website! I have a quick question regarding sand vs. gravel for substrate. I was recently in a pet store and saw them using sand in a koi tank. It looked absolutely beautiful. I read that sand might not be the best for goldfish. I'm going to get a bigger tank for my goldfish and am considering sand. I just want to make sure it's safe.

Also, how do you vaccuum sand? It seems it would all get sucked up? If you don't vaccuum it then do you do some kind of sifting and then suck the water near the surface of the sand?

Also, I may replace the gravel in my community tank which has become so insanely overcrowded with babies that I've had to remove everything they can hide in so that nature can take its course... survival of the strongest. HOW SAD! I just don't know what else to do since I don't have anyone I can give fish to! Anyway, I imagine the process of switching could be a headache!!

OKay, I've rambled enough for now! Thanks in advance for any help/advice you can give!

teevee · 08-25-2008, 11:06 PM

Awww! I'm a teeny weenie fish! How cute!!!!!!

Sorry, I'm easily amused.

stevenc85 · 08-26-2008, 03:14 AM

Hello! While i'm not much help myself, im sure someone will be along to help you shortly. The people here are great. So i'm sure they will be by to correct me if im wrong.

To clean sand you actually have to over an inch or 2 above the sand so you do not suck it up!

"Unfortunately, goldfish are one of the few fish that don't do well with sand substrates. They will sift through it with their mouth, irritating their gills and clouding up the tank." This i got from a Moderator at tims tropical site.

There is good news though. There are other substrates that are more 'coarse' than sand but still look amazing. I have Crushed Corel in my Cichlid tank and it looks pretty sweet. It is more coarse than sand so it doesnt cloud up the tank as easily. I haven't heard anything about it being bad for goldfish, but i could be wrong. Hope i helped at least a little.

FishGeek · 08-26-2008, 06:21 AM

I have a tank of each. With the messier fish I like to use gravel just because I can make sure it stays very clean. With that said sand is pretty easy to clean with the less messy fish

Like Steven85 said just hover over it when you do your water changes. Most of the poo sits on the surface, but about every other month or so I like to take all the decor out of the tank and stir up the sand to help remove anything that might have gotten covered and to filter the sand a bit.

teevee · 08-26-2008, 10:30 PM

wow! thanks for the suggestion! i surely don't want to hurt my goldfish! i just thought it looked soooo pretty!! thanks for responding!!

teevee · 08-26-2008, 10:32 PM

Thanks for the advice! I just got into keeping fish and I'm pretty much obsessed with it now! LOL I'll take ics of the new tank once it's up and running!!

d3sc3n7 · 08-26-2008, 10:53 PM

I also have sand and gravel tanks. Im 100% for setting up a sand tank...but I also agree that goldfish are not the way to go. As you probably know, they are fat bastards, and are always sucking up the gravel in search of food. They can spit the gravel out...but the sand is a bit tougher. So, I say just buy another tank!!!

teevee · 08-27-2008, 10:19 PM

Thanks! Yeah, they are fat bastards! LOL I bought a new 36 gallon bowfront today!!!!!! i got fine black gravel for substrate. I'm hoping it'll look awesome.

d3sc3n7 · 08-27-2008, 10:20 PM

Dark substrates always do. The bowfronts are very nice!

brian1973 · 08-27-2008, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teevee

Thanks! Yeah, they are fat bastards! LOL I bought a new 36 gallon bowfront today!!!!!! i got fine black gravel for substrate. I'm hoping it'll look awesome.

Welcome to the addiction..I started with one 24g now I have a 90g, 24g, 30g and another 90g I will set up after I get settled in after I move to texas.

08-25-2008, 11:04 PM	#1
teevee Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: mesa, az Posts: 88	Sand VS. Gravel Hi! I'm new to the group but am so glad I found this website! I have a quick question regarding sand vs. gravel for substrate. I was recently in a pet store and saw them using sand in a koi tank. It looked absolutely beautiful. I read that sand might not be the best for goldfish. I'm going to get a bigger tank for my goldfish and am considering sand. I just want to make sure it's safe. Also, how do you vaccuum sand? It seems it would all get sucked up? If you don't vaccuum it then do you do some kind of sifting and then suck the water near the surface of the sand? Also, I may replace the gravel in my community tank which has become so insanely overcrowded with babies that I've had to remove everything they can hide in so that nature can take its course... survival of the strongest. HOW SAD! I just don't know what else to do since I don't have anyone I can give fish to! Anyway, I imagine the process of switching could be a headache!! OKay, I've rambled enough for now! Thanks in advance for any help/advice you can give!

08-26-2008, 06:21 AM	#4
FishGeek Super Fish Join Date: May 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,265	I have a tank of each. With the messier fish I like to use gravel just because I can make sure it stays very clean. With that said sand is pretty easy to clean with the less messy fish Like Steven85 said just hover over it when you do your water changes. Most of the poo sits on the surface, but about every other month or so I like to take all the decor out of the tank and stir up the sand to help remove anything that might have gotten covered and to filter the sand a bit. __________________ 44G ~ Equipment: Rena Filstar XP3 & 200W Heater *Inhabitants:* 7 Pristella Tetras, Marigold Platy, Koi Angel, & Female Betta 90G ~ Equipment: Tidepool & 300W Titanium Heater *Inhabitants:* 4 Texas Cichlids & Royal Pleco-L027C Other Pets ~ 3 Horses (Sunny-Roscoe-Luke), 2 Rats (Duncan-Bongo) & a Dog (Chance)

08-26-2008, 10:53 PM	#7
d3sc3n7 Super Fish Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ft. Campbell, Ky Posts: 1,455	I also have sand and gravel tanks. Im 100% for setting up a sand tank...but I also agree that goldfish are not the way to go. As you probably know, they are fat bastards, and are always sucking up the gravel in search of food. They can spit the gravel out...but the sand is a bit tougher. So, I say just buy another tank!!! __________________ Signature

08-27-2008, 10:20 PM	#9
d3sc3n7 Super Fish Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ft. Campbell, Ky Posts: 1,455	Dark substrates always do. The bowfronts are very nice! __________________ Signature

08-25-2008, 11:06 PM	#2
teevee Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: mesa, az Posts: 88	Awww! I'm a teeny weenie fish! How cute!!!!!! Sorry, I'm easily amused.

08-26-2008, 03:14 AM	#3
stevenc85 Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 14	Hello! While i'm not much help myself, im sure someone will be along to help you shortly. The people here are great. So i'm sure they will be by to correct me if im wrong. To clean sand you actually have to over an inch or 2 above the sand so you do not suck it up! "Unfortunately, goldfish are one of the few fish that don't do well with sand substrates. They will sift through it with their mouth, irritating their gills and clouding up the tank." This i got from a Moderator at tims tropical site. There is good news though. There are other substrates that are more 'coarse' than sand but still look amazing. I have Crushed Corel in my Cichlid tank and it looks pretty sweet. It is more coarse than sand so it doesnt cloud up the tank as easily. I haven't heard anything about it being bad for goldfish, but i could be wrong. Hope i helped at least a little.

08-26-2008, 10:30 PM	#5
teevee Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: mesa, az Posts: 88	wow! thanks for the suggestion! i surely don't want to hurt my goldfish! i just thought it looked soooo pretty!! thanks for responding!!

08-26-2008, 10:32 PM	#6
teevee Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: mesa, az Posts: 88	Thanks for the advice! I just got into keeping fish and I'm pretty much obsessed with it now! LOL I'll take ics of the new tank once it's up and running!!

08-27-2008, 10:19 PM	#8
teevee Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: mesa, az Posts: 88	Thanks! Yeah, they are fat bastards! LOL I bought a new 36 gallon bowfront today!!!!!! i got fine black gravel for substrate. I'm hoping it'll look awesome.