Remember Me
forgot your password?

Fish Tank Sand Pros and Cons – Should You Use Sand or Gravel?


Fish tank gravel is what most people use to cover the floor of their fish tanks. While gravel is a popular choice, there is also aquarium sand available at pet retailers and online fish supply stores. Aquarium sand can give your aquarium a tropical look, but fish tank gravel is economical and easier to use. The best decision for your tank can only be made after you weigh the pros and cons.

Gravel is the easiest fish tank floor covering to use. It comes in many different colors that you can use to customize the look of your tank. You can have everything from neon green and pink to natural looking grey and brown stones.

Gravel is also easier to clean. You can use a gravel vacuum during the cleanup process to suck up small bits of debris and waste. The vacuum will eliminate the tiny pieces while still leaving the gravel intact on the fish tank floor.

On the other hand, gravel shifts a lot more than sand does. If you plan on using live plants in your aquarium design, you may find that they will become disheveled and unplanted over time. It can also display pockets and needs to be smoothed out from time to time.

Aquarium sand is a bit trickier to use. You must turn off the filter on your tank when you first start to use the sand. It is very cloudy to begin with and you have to give it time to settle. You also may need to get an upgraded filter that won’t get stuck on the tiny sand particles. Debris shows up much more clearly with sand than it does with gravel.

On the positive side, live plants root well in the sand surface. Sand gives a much more professional look to your tank. It’s also an aesthetically pleasing choice if you have a tank with tropical fish.

Josh Spaulding

If you would like to read much more Fish Care Advice visit http://www.FishCareTips.com/ where we provide expert advice on various fish care topics!

Rate this Article: 5 / 5 stars - 1 vote(s)
Print Email Re-Publish


  • Latest Pets Articles
  • More from Josh Spaulding

Dog Training - How Do I Teach My Dog How To Wait?

By: Andyj00 | 14/11/2009
The aim with this exercise is to teach your dog that ‘wait’ means ‘hold on for a moment’. The release word then follows, meaning ‘okay, now you can get what you want’. This word can be used: before the dog is fed, before he goes through a doorway, before his lead is removed, before you let him out of the car, on walks, if he is pulling on his lead, when your dog is excited, as it is a good way of getting him to stop and listen to you.

Fantastic Tips On Teaching Your Dog The Stay Command

By: Andyj00 | 14/11/2009
Once your dog has learned things like the commands to sit and lie down positions you can progress onto the ‘stay’ command. It is great to have a dog who sits when told, but not so good if he leaps to his feet immediately. Therefore, we need a word that means ‘do not move for now’. This is when we teach the stay exercise.

How To Teach Your Dog How To Stand Nicely

By: Andyj00 | 14/11/2009
Being able to control your dog to stand will have numerous benefits. Also it’s valuable for your dog to learn how to roll over too. Follow this great advice to teach your dog some great tricks.

Dog Training – How To Teach Your Dog To Lie Down

By: Andyj00 | 14/11/2009
The aim is to teach your dog to lie down on the floor when you ask him to. Some dogs find this exercise easy - others find it comparatively difficult. Ensure that your dog understands the ‘sit’ word first and make sure he is fully fluent in this action. If you try to teach too much at once, he will simply become confused and not know what you are asking him.

How To Teach A Dog To Sit – The Easy Way

By: Andyj00 | 14/11/2009
Teaching a dog to sit when you ask should be one of the simplest training exercises. It can sometimes be a challenge. Follow these great tips to get your dog sitting exactly how you would like.

Dog Training - Fantastic Tips To Teach Your Dog To Walk Nicely On a Loose Lead

By: Andyj00 | 14/11/2009
Walks will be more pleasant for both of you if your dog walks nicely on a lead. In this instance, although treats may help, the reward your dog wants is that you continue with your progress. Remember, your dog wants to get there and humans move more slowly than dogs.

Dog Training – Learn How To Call Your Dog In 6 Easy Steps

By: Andyj00 | 14/11/2009
Being able to experience freedom, run around and explore is all part of being a dog. However this can only be provided if it is safe. Safety means not only a suitable environment, but also a dog who will respond to you. If your dog does not want to be with you, how do you expect him to learn from you?

Recognizing Dog Ear Problems And Treating Them

By: Matt LeClair | 14/11/2009
Have you noticed that you’re dog cannot seem to stop scratching his ear or both ears? This may be a sign that your dogs ears need to be clean. Or it may also be a sign of a more serious condition that needs to be treated as soon as possible. This article will discuss some of the potential ear problems that your dog might be suffering from and how you can treat them.

Fish Tank Cleaning - How to Properly Clean a Freshwater Fish Tank

By: Josh Spaulding | 21/01/2009 | Pets
Just like any other pet in the World, fish need a clean and healthy place to live. Unfortunately fish are one of the most neglected pets on the planet simply because the average fish owner doesn't know how to properly take care of them! When it comes to cleaning a fish tank there is more to it than the average person may believe!

Marine Tropical Fish – What You Need to Know as a Marine Tropical Fish Pet Owner

By: Josh Spaulding | 21/01/2009 | Pets
If you want to start a salt water tank, but you've always thought it was just too hard to keep one up, there are a few things you should know. Primarily, owning marine tropical fish isn't as difficult as you may think.

Mesothelioma Survival Rate Facts

By: Josh Spaulding | 03/06/2008 | Cancer
The survival rates of mesothelioma cancer vary, but in general this awful disease claims the lives of those suffering from it soon after diagnosis. In this article we'll provide some stats on different survival rates.

The History of Mesothelioma

By: Josh Spaulding | 23/05/2008 | Cancer
Mesothelioma cancer has a long, depressing history. In this article you'll find some of that history, including details about the last asbestos mining.

Asbestos Lung Cancer Types and Treatment

By: Josh Spaulding | 19/05/2008 | Cancer
This article explains what asbestos lung cancer is along with it's diagnosis and treatment. Learn more about the cancer that is caused by asbestos!

Why Buy a Home in Foreclosure?

By: Josh Spaulding | 14/04/2008 | Mortgage
Buying a home in foreclosure is the best way to buy a home in many people's eyes. Home that have been forclosed are typically sold for far less than what they're worth, but it's important to understand the process before looking into them.

Get a Federal Grant to Finance Your Home

By: Josh Spaulding | 14/03/2008 | Mortgage
Although many federal grants are unknown to the masses, they provide a unique opportunity in obtaining funds for various things. For example, when it comes to buying a new home, many different grants are available.

Submit Your Articles Free: Signup
Article Categories




Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy | User published content is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Copyright © 2005-2008 Free Articles by ArticlesBase.com, All rights reserved. (1.98, 3, w1)