Gravel or sand

[londonloco]

IMO, the answer is use both. One of the things that make many aquariums look artificial is that aquarists too often use a uniform substrate. Nature almost never practices this kind of quality control. A mixture of sand with small and medium gravel gives a nice, natural appearance. The specfic mix is up to you, but I find 70% sand, 20% small gravel, and 10% medium-large gravel gives a very nice look.

I'd like to see a pic of that.....

 

[Shane]

These pics shows several different tanks with differing sand/gravel mixtures. I think the varied substrates on the tank rack give each tank a different "feel" instead of all looking like the same bland replicated fish cage.
Bottom tank is the 70% sand mix mentioned above.
-Shane

 

[69cichlids]

PS A thin layer of PFS with a few rocks, a handful or two of gravel and some clay pots (or pieces) is what's in most of my tanks...

Thats pretty much how I have my 80 set up...the 30 that I started this tread about is out of commission now...that dyi 3d background I did was a big fail...the sealer that menards told me to get didn't work the write thing crumbled apart

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[69cichlids]

The 3d background was a fail so after cleaning that up and a day of trout fishing which ended up me just getting some rock lol. Here it's the tank now with bills williamsi blue lips to grow a tad bit more in before a bigger tank.
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