Half and half

Well the way I'm trying to scape my 30 gal is half pea gravel and half black petco sand. Side by side, not stacked. I'm trying to get it to look some what like a shore line. I also have 2 filter types, hob and sponge. To get the most effective filtration which filter should be on which substrate? This will help me figure which half will be sand, since my hob filter is only able to be in 1 spot due to the hood slots.

I am assuming that the sponge would be better over the sand, and hob for gravel. But I could be wrong. Maybe it doesn't really matter. But it wouldnt hurt to ask!

Also will my plants grow in sand??

 

Plants will grow in sand. Where you put your filters won't really make a difference as long as you spread them out. The sand and gravel that are next to each other will probably mix eventually.

 

Plants will grow in sand. Where you put your filters won't really make a difference as long as you spread them out. The sand and gravel that are next to each other will probably mix eventually.

I hear sand will destroy hob filters so ill keep that one above the gravel and place the sponge above the sand

Eventually ill probably remove all the gravel anyways, I'm just messing with my set up until I'm satisfied.

 

Maybe if you pour some into the impeller, but as a rule, no it won't. Loads if people have sanded tanks filtered with HOBs and it causes them zero problems.

 

Maybe if you pour some into the impeller, but as a rule, no it won't. Loads if people have sanded tanks filtered with HOBs and it causes them zero problems.

I assumed those people have the intake tube too close to the bottom, or they have too much aeration going on and is kicking sand up into the tube.

Thanks for the input. My cories and shrimp will thank me for the Sandy beach

How do mystery snails do with sand? I feel like they might enjoy the softer substrate too, less chance of cracked shell if they fall on sand.

 

Sand and mystery snails are fine. But then again, mystery snails are pretty forgiving critters.