Butters

For my new planted tank I want to know if I should go with Flourite black sand or gravel? I might be getting kuhli loaches or dwarf loaches if I can find them. Which would be better for them, the plants, and me? (me as in cleaning, how much mess, and what looks better?) Thanks!

Austin {Aquarist}

I would totally go for the fluorite black sand. It looks awesome, and it's good for your loaches. Unfortunately I don't know how easy it would be to clean.

GreenMan13

Gravel is easier to clean in terms of concentration as you just stick the vac in the gravel but sand is easier (after a bit of practice) as long as you can hold the vac above the sand as all the gunk will rest on the top of the sand.

Sand you will need to stir every now and then or get snails like MTS that will dig around in the sand to mix it up.

Looks, that's totally personal opinion but i think sand looks better.

It is also easier to plant roots in sand then larger gravel, smaller gravel probably is just as easy as sand though.

agabr123

sand definitely, especially for the loaches. i agree, i'd get an MTS and also use something to aerate it once in a while along with it, but personally i absolutely prefer sand... at some point or another all of my tanks will be converted.

Amanda

I have sand in my 55 gal, it looks better...my very hard to keep clean. You can see everything on it, and when you vacuum, you suck up the sand. So vacuuming is a bit harder. You have to hold the vac above the sand, not actually touch it. I have MTS in the tank to help stir up the sand.

fishlover78

go with the sand, its really easy to keep clean, and when stuff falls to the bottom it lays ontop of the sand, with gravel it falls into the cracks.

Butters

Thanks for the input! I'll be sure to get sand now. Thanks again!