Re: sand vs gravel

[mjacobs2@tampabay.rr.com]

....I agree with Colin that beach sand might cause some hardness problems.  
Now the next question is "should the bottom be sand or gravel".......small 
grain or large????  Isn't the "natural" environment down in nature bacically 
sand with a covering or leaves???  My apisto's really seem to prefer sand and 
they move it sometimes furiously bit by bit.  Now as to color........wel, I 
think the leaves will give a darker color so apisto's in the wild are used to 
darker bottoms.........so take your choice.  Personal preferences.....I don't 
like the straight black sand although the apistos do show off well there I 
prefer the natural med. light sand...but if I was "showing" the fish I would 
probably opt for the dark natural sand......please don't be offended by me not 
liking the black sand..........you probably don't like the shirt I'm wearing 
either.....;-), ;-) 

> Be careful with beach sand, it almost certainly contains shells, which will 
cause you
problems with water hardness. There have been many discussions on this subject 
and I'd
suggest you have a look at the archives at thekrib.com, this'll give you some 
ideas for
sources of acceptable sand. I try to use a dark sand substrate, but sometimes 
it's
difficult to find it. Sand is fine for plants, they are able to get a better 
purchase on
it than gravel.
> 
> 
> -- 
> 
> 
> C:-)lin
> 
> They said "Smile, things could be worse." So I smiled, and sure enough...
> 
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