Aldric

whats best for bristlenose? gravel or sand?
im thinking about getting a new and bigger tank and tho i like the look of sand i suddenly had a thought about the bristlenose eating the sand when they r feeding along the bottom

btate617

You could do gravel or sand either will work.
driftwood would be appreciated also along with caves.

Brian

Aldric

i have a few bristlenose in the tank i have now which has a nice slate cave and a big chunk of bogwood.
but i now want to get a bigger tank and plan it out properly and use diff plants ( one typ of plant i have at the moment is growing way to wild but is good for the baby guppies and shrimps)
and i also found a plan of building a slate cave city thing that i fancy turning my hand to but i was concerned that the bristlenose would suck up the sand while feeding and it might harm them or get stuck in their digestive systems

btate617

Shouldn't be a problem.

Brian

kimb

I have sand with corys...they LOVE to dig in it! I have just changed over two tanks to sand and looks wise, I like it much better than gravel. I don't know what you pay for either there, but here gravel runs about 17 -20 dollars for a 25lb bag, but I can get a 50lb bag of pool filter sand for 10 bucks! Love the look, love the price! Out of curiosity Brian, what do you pay for sand and gravel out west?

btate617

I can get 50lbs of play sand for right around $5.
Gravel is about $10-15 for 5lbs at LFS. If you like gravel much better to go buy it at a land scaping shop.


Brian

kimb

Have you tried playsand? I had bought a bag, but when trying to wash it, it was really muddy! In my small town, a landscaping shop is the local walmart!

btate617

I use all playsand.
I use a 3gal bucket to rinse it in.
Fill about 1/3 of the way with sand, then fill with water. As the bucket fills with water I use my hand and stir the sand from the bottom to the top. I will fill each bucket probably 30x's with water.
The key for anyone cleaning sand for a tank, when you think it is clean enough, clean it at least 10 more times lol.

Brian

kimb

Sorry Aldric for hijacking! agree with the cleaning for sure...I shudder to think of my next water bill

Aldric

lol no worries about hijacking, the info was informative about the diff sand (play sand pool filter sand) and the washing involved
if the play sand needs so much cleaning perhaps the pool filter sand might be a better idea ?

btate617

I would clean the out of it no matter what you pick.

Brian

Aldric

well i know that... lol i was just comenting on the "muddyness" of play sand..

btate617

It is just "dirty" sand if that makes sense.

Aldric

which is why i said pool filter sand might be better lol

btate617

Not better but easier.......
once you clean it it is fine

kimb

Agree with Brian, it is easier but no better. Sometimes play sand can be darker in colour, depending on type. My pool filter is almost white. I also used Silica sand in a tank, expensive, but nice looking and really clean, it requires less cleaning but cleaning none the less! Good luck with whatever you choose.