How to Pick Fish Tank Gravel
Picking your fish tank gravel is an important part of setting up an aquarium that is pleasing to the eye and comfortable for your fish. There are many types of substrata to choose from. Give some thought to what type of animals you will keep in your aquarium. Saltwater animals have different environmental requirements from freshwater animals. An aquarium supply store employee should be able to help you with this, but it is always a good idea to do a bit of research before going to the store so that you will have a basic knowledge of what you will need when you get there.
Instructions
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Purchase aquarium gravel for freshwater animals that do not need to dig or burrow into the substrata. It will not change the alkalinity of the water, and it is an excellent filtering medium for bottom or under-gravel filters. Catfish, spiny eels, loaches, mormyrids, gobies, earth-eating cichlids and freshwater flatfish need something a bit softer than gravel in the bottom of their tanks.
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Buy coral sand for saltwater aquariums. It increases the pH and hardness of the water. Do not use it in tanks with most community fish from Africa, South America and Asia. This includes angel fish, tetras, barbs, gouramis, loaches and catfish. Brackish water fish, Rift Valley cichlids and many livebearers do very well with coral sand. Combine coral sand with other types of substrata to form an effective undergravel filter medium. Put a thin layer of crushed shells over the undergravel filter with a layer of gravel over it and a ½- to 1-inch layer of coral sand on top of that for good bottom filtration. It is very reflective and will cause fish colors to fade. Mix in darker sand and use plants, rocks and lighting to create contrasting areas of light and dark to lessen the reflective effects on fish.
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Choose river sand or beach sand for a good alternative to coral sand. It will not change the pH and hardness of the water as effectively as coral sand but still should not be used in aquariums with animals that need soft water. River sand and beach sand are so fine grained that they cannot be used with an undergravel filter. River sand is an excellent substrata for brackish water fish, livebearers and American Cichlids. Keep the sand to a depth of less than 1 inch unless you have live plants. River sand can be slightly deeper when planted with live plants. The deeper you make the river sand, the more difficult it will be to keep it clean.
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Buy silica sand, also known as silver sand because of its shiny silver color, for a sandy substrata that will not change the pH of the water. Eartheater Cichlids, Awaous Gobies and burrowing fish do well in silica sand. Add aquarium soil or laterite to the silica sand for aquatic plants. Do not use silica sand with an undergravel filter. Some aquarists believe it promotes diatom blooms (brown algae). As with coral sand, silica sand can cause fish colors to fade because of its reflective properties. It can be difficult to find. Garden centers sell it for use as a potting medium. Do not purchase the sharp silica sand. Reptile stores sell smooth silica sand for lizards and snakes.
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