Gravel or sand

69cichlids

69cichlids

Members
So I need some help with the setup of my 29 gallon. I did a 3d back ground and its finaly cured. I'm going to be putting 6 or so pseudotropheus williamsi north in the tank. I can't decide if I should put gravel or sand in there...gravel for me is easier to clean, I have sand in my 80 gal and its a pain to clean of course I'm new to it and might not be cleaning right idk...any suggestions? I want to get stuff in there asap to get the water cycling.

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killakacti

killakacti

Members
not to be a buzzkill but ps williamsi are going to need more swimming room than a 30'' tank. I have 5 in a 5' tank and they are very active, i couldnt imagine them in anything lees than 4' base.

Getting back to the original question, I prefer sand much easier to clean and looks great to.
 
mscichlid

mscichlid

Founder
In any case, a thin layer of sand or gravel is best. Deep gravel/sand beds lead to aneorbic situations in the future.
 
fischfan13

fischfan13

Banned
Sand.

As for the Williamsi...
I have been keeping and breeding them for a few years now, they need length, not height. They come from a rocky shoreline and 6 of them will need at least 4' of tank.
 
69cichlids

69cichlids

Members
Thanks guys, the 30 is just temp....they are about 1.5-2"once they get a little bigger they will be going in my 80L about 6' long I had then in my 70T with my other fish that are around the same size to grow out but I think I might of sold a few by mistake so I wanted to keep them separated...fischfan13 I think I bought the williamsi from you a few months back... And yes with the sands the poop and gunk did on top of the sand but I guess my siphon sucks, on in my case doesnt suck because I can't get much out

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69cichlids

69cichlids

Members
Yep thats me! And yeah they have gotten bigger from when I got them. I just can't wait until they are a but bigger to put them in my 80 community but I have a few bigger fish in there 7" bumble bee and 5" male kenyi and blue peacock that can get pretty aggressive.

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69cichlids

69cichlids

Members
londonloco said:
Pool filter sand, NOT play sand, would be my choice. I just changed over 2 tanks to PFS, I'm def a fan.
Click to expand...

Yeah I got some industrial sand that is very fine and white from home depot 50 lbs for $5 don't get me wrong I love the look and my cichlids love it but it send like I can never get it clean

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B

b considine

a dude playing a dude disguised as another dude
The good thing about sand is that when it gets ratty looking, you can remove and replace it with more of the same.

Blaise
 
Malawimania

Malawimania

Members
Silica sand which is the same thing as pool filter sand works well. The cichlids like to pick it up in their mouths sort through it for food and spit it out. Silica sand is cheap and doesn't clump! I used to have crused coral in all my Tanks, but after finding out about the sand I switched and will never go back.

-Steve
 
69cichlids

69cichlids

Members
Yeah the stuff I got from hd is quikrete commercial grade fine sand and has silica in it or a mix maybe? $4 for 50 lbs rather than $40 for 10lbs at lfs the fish in my 80 love it. I have went with sand. While the tank starts to cycle I'm going to try to make a hood out something for it. By the time that
Tank gets cycled the williamis might just be big enough to go into the 80 anyways...

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Sonny Disposition

Sonny Disposition

Well-Known Member
All things being equal, I prefer sand. The trick is to have a fairly high level of circulation, with the filter intake at the bottom, on top of, or just above, the sand. The outflow from the filter keeps the dirt from settling in the sand, so it goes right into the filter. You need to cover the intake with a sponge or some quilt batting to keep the sand from getting up into the filter housing. You won't need to vaccuum--just rinse the sponge or change the quilt batting once in awhile. What also helps is to keep catfish, g
 
69cichlids

69cichlids

Members
Thanks sonny, I'll have to try that on my 80. Might have to get a few powerheads to get the circulation I need. The big trick is not letting the wife find out I spent more money on fish related stuff...she didn't share the love of the hobby like i do haha

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Tony

Tony

Alligator Snapping Turtle/Past Pres
69cichlids said:
Also, what kind of catfish could I keep with cichlids?
Click to expand...

Synodontis are the most popular to be kept with Africans. They range from small (petricola = 4"+/-) up to very large (angelicus or decorus = 12").
 
Sonny Disposition

Sonny Disposition

Well-Known Member
Yeah, I use powerheads with cages. I hang the powerhead at the top, put the cage down at the bottom, and connect the two with 5/8 inch plastic tubing.

69cichlids said:
Thanks sonny, I'll have to try that on my 80. Might have to get a few powerheads to get the circulation I need. The big trick is not letting the wife find out I spent more money on fish related stuff...she didn't share the love of the hobby like i do haha

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Click to expand...
 
Shane

Shane

Members
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.
 
dogofwar

dogofwar

CCA Members
Nature doesn't clean the front glass, either. At least that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it ;)

Matt

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...

Shane said:
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.
Click to expand...
 
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