Gravel Vs Sand pros and cons?
(sorry for the second question but apperently yahoo answers on phone = FAILURE) i just moved my betta into his new 5.5 gallon home and i was wondering what would be better for the size of the tank and fish? i know that the sand is better for live plants which i will end up getting later, but its harder to set up and clean, and gravel is better for beneficial bacteria but isnt good for bottom dwelling fish in case i decide on a tankmate like a cory catfish or something any idears?
answer: Hello there :)
It is great to hear that you are moving your betta to a perfect size tank! Most people ignore the fact that bettas are living fish too and keep them in poor 1 liter envioments... -.-
I recommend using sand as a substrate. It looks natural, and it is easy to move around if you ever plan to remove the substrate from the tank. I have kept pure gravel in a tank, and removing the gravel was a pain. What I did in my tank was I mixed gravel and sand, making for a nice natural appearence, :) pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
They are both good for beneficial bacteria. The thing that makes sand an unpopular option is the fact that it has areas where bad bacteria grow because it is very compact. My solution for this is to buy a colony of Trumpet snails. They are simplifly amazing creatures. They are nocteral for the most part, and spend the day tunnelling through the substrate, which sand is easier in this case. This removes pockets than can host anaoboic bacteria and moves the sand around. I also recommend moving around the sand using your hand at least once a week. Just make gentle waving motions to stur up the sand.
Trumpet snails, unlike other snails, do not devour plants. They may at rare occessions dig a hole in one, but it is not siginificent. They eat decaying plant leaves, and fish food, acting as a cleaning service for your tank, and not eating your plants as a bonus. They however, have a high reproduction rate, so only buy a small colony. They reproduce quickly because of excess food, so do not overfeed the tank. pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
Overall, choose sand. It is cheaper than gravel, and easier to transport. Just be sure to buy aquarium grade sand.
Hope this helps :)
10 gallon plant tank with a Betta.
