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Why not to use sand

The1and only;3199841; said:
Sand can trap harmful stuff if it is undisturbed but a few MTS or a fish that likes to rearrange things like a puffer or an oscar and you don't have to worry about it. Every thing has its ups and downs try not to be so passionate about one or the other life will seem much better for you in the long run.
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This is great advice. Passion is for losers. :screwy:
 
yeah, thats why the gravel i got is really fine, i dont wanna scratch my eel up because the mucus on their bodies protects them from diseases and sickness. the big course stuff is no good for fish like that, i also have a bunch of clown loaches so the same goes for them (the gravel, not the mucus, lol).
 
Davey_8313;3199923; said:
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107038&highlight=gas+pocket
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:thumbsup: the most informative post in that thread below

Pufferpunk;1327441; said:
The anaerobic bacteria live in areas devoid of oxygen, such as deep in the substrate of the aquarium or in areas where decorations cover the substrate. Some of the anaerobic bacteria are beneficial; some of them convert nitrate into nitrogen gas. This is why most denitrators have such slow flow rates and long coiled tubes- the idea is that bacteria will colonize the first part of the tube or denitrator and consume all of the oxygen, so everything from that point on will be anaerobic. In large quantities, anaerobic bacteria are bad because some types produce hydrogen sulfide as a metabolic byproduct. Hydrogen sulfide smells like rotten eggs; in marine aquaria, just stirring an anaerobic pocket can kill the fish. In freshwater it is largely less toxic, but is a symptom of poor husbandry techniques. These anaerobic areas also indicate lost bio filter real estate. Some of the other byproducts of anaerobic respiration are toxic if allowed to build up, but hydrogen sulfide is the most noticeable. The main way to fight anaerobic areas are to avoid placing rocks and decorations in a way that water cannot flow over the surface of the substrate. Decreasing substrate depth or increasing particle size will allow more oxygen to go deeper in the substrate. Fine sand has a tendancy to get packed and turn anaerobic; livestock ranging from Malaysian livebearing snails to horseface loaches to eartheater cichlids to (small) softshell turtles may be needed to prevent anaerobic pockets from forming.
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for reef tanks, quite a bit of people are going bare bottom or a very thin layer. However, I like a deep sand bed and if you have fish or critters that will stir up the sand, I think you will be fine.
 
sulfuric acid is a common active ingredient found in PH down. not saying this is a great product, but i am trying to say that its not like its going to turn your tank into a toxic dump. you would notice the drop in PH as well.
 
also, trumpet snails have been said to burrow in the substrate and reduce the pockets of gas
 
There's NO reason well-maintained sand would facilitate the production of sulfuric acid in any quantity that could possibly effect your fish.

Sand isn't going to "trap nitrites and nitrates." It might trap waste which will decompose into nitrate, but the amount of waste that will end up trapped IN your sand, which is more densely packed than gravel meaning there's less empty space in it, will be negligible compared to what builds up in your filters over a week. Waste tends to sit on top of the sand instead of in it, so yes, it's easier to clean. Any nitrate produced from waste in sand is going to be removed the same way any other nitrate is removed - when you do a water change.

Millions of aquarists have used sand for many many many years. The fact that "polyptasaurus" has used faulty logic to come to the conclusion that sand is "bad" isn't going to change anyone's mind. Or maybe it will. Common sense ain't so common any more.
 
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