Sand or River Gravel?

[ianclick]

Oh No I have just got a new habitat for my new axie and have put river gravel in as a substrate. The pebbles are about 2 -3 cm and are smooth. I guess I should have looked here first cause now it would appear that I should have sand. Is sand more suitable? and should I switch to sand immediately if it is.

Cheers

ian

 

[kapo]

Ah, didn't see this till after I posted the other thread!

I'd say sand as food/waste can tend to fall in between the gravel/pebble substrate and can eventually have a water quality problem.

You can get bags of playsand from Bunnings, Mitre 10, Palmers, Garden Centres or Landscaping/Hardware stores for about $8=$12 (varies) for 25kg bag.

Do you have an undergravel filter or internal filter, and did you cycle your tank?

See: http://www.caudata.org/cc/articles/cyclingEDK.shtml

If you don't have an UG filter, and you still wish to keep gravel, here's a thread, posted by Jennewt, for "permanent sand/gravel" http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/793/77098.html?1170154180

If you don't already have one invest in a turkey baster, from $2 shop, they are handy cleaning tools to suck up uneaten/regurgitated food/waste/poo! We cut the tip of it so it's easier to suck up waste.

 

[ianclick]

Thanks for the advice

Kia ora Kapo, no I don't have an under gravel filter so I'm off to bunnings for some sand this morning. Thanks for the assistance.

Regards

ian