Gravel/Sand or nothing? (What is your preferred freshwater substrate?)

yer. heres a typical pic, the sands never been cleaned.
View attachment 687981

Whaaaaat??? Seriously? How do you get away with that?

 

Whaaaaat??? Seriously? How do you get away with that?

You don't actually have to vacuum sand most of the time, the bacteria will multiply so that they can eat up all the ammonia from the extra "stuff".

 

You don't actually have to vacuum sand most of the time, the bacteria will multiply so that they can eat up all the ammonia from the extra "stuff".

Seriously? That's cool! Do you have fish? Or just shrimp?

 

Seriously? That's cool! Do you have fish? Or just shrimp?

I have fish(if thats what you're asking lol). Gravel vacs aren't really necessary imo, I would only say its "necessary" for water quality if the tank is a bare-bottom. Not vacuuming substrate does most of the time lead to higher nitrates though, unless the tank has a deep layer of sand or gravel which can lead to an anaerobic bacteria colony.

 

I have fish(if thats what you're asking lol). Gravel vacs aren't really necessary imo, I would only say its "necessary" for water quality if the tank is a bare-bottom. Not vacuuming substrate does most of the time lead to higher nitrates though, unless the tank has a deep layer of sand or gravel which can lead to an anaerobic bacteria colony.

Ah. Okay

 

I want sand, but when you go to use a hand pump wouldnt the pump steal the sand and think its waste or something?

I recently switched from gravel to sand and it is working out well. I just keep the gravel vac tube an inch above the sand surface and give it a little swirl and the detritus floats up and the sand stays put.

I did do a lot of research to find a "coarse" sand as opposed to something too fine.