| In setting up a fish tank, the substrate is one of the | | | | Gravel is chemically inert. Being such, it would not |
| most important things to consider. A trip to the | | | | alter the quality of the water. However, if you're |
| aquatic store would present you many options to fill | | | | keeping Corydoras, loaches or other fishes that love |
| your tank bottom with but even from the past up to | | | | to burrow, gravel may not be a good idea as they |
| now, sand and gravel remains to be two of the most | | | | may scratch and harm themselves as they try to dig |
| popular choices. There are quite a lot of mixed | | | | through. Keeping fishes that requires a heavily planted |
| opinion as to which is actually the better option | | | | tank also may not work with a gravel substrate as it |
| among the two. The solution is quite simple. The kind | | | | is known to be bad for live plants. Most freshwater |
| of tank you have and the kind of fishes you're | | | | tanks are filled with gravel substrate. |
| keeping would dictate the kind of substrate you | | | | Sand is a more common option for saltwater tanks. |
| require. Both can really be appropriate as long as it | | | | Scavenger fishes and other fishes that loves to dig |
| answers to what you need. | | | | and bury themselves may be better kept in sand |
| Using gravel for your tank could be a great option. | | | | filled tanks. As sand has the tendency to pack tightly, |
| Apart from being affordable, it comes in a lot of | | | | food wastes and debris could not settle in, making |
| playful colors to choose from and could make up a | | | | maintenance easy. It may be a little overwhelming |
| big part of your tank's decorative theme. Sure there | | | | when using sand for the first time as the water may |
| are plenty that comes in plain colors, but generally, | | | | get cloudy, but after it settles in a few days, care is |
| gravel creates a beautiful finish and could actually | | | | more manageable. However, using sand has its |
| make tanks more appealing. The ease of | | | | downsides too. An upgraded filter becomes a |
| maintenance involved in using gravel is another | | | | necessity to avoid loose particles from getting stuck. |
| attractive advantage. A gravel vacuum can quickly | | | | The sand's chemical make up affects the water's |
| clean your tank floor without disturbing the substrate | | | | hardness and pH, which may be good for certain |
| and even the tank decors. If you intend to clean and | | | | fishes, but others may not tolerate as well. Silica is |
| disinfect your gravel, thoroughly washing them is | | | | one sand substrate variety known to be harmless to |
| easy and could be quickly re-used after treatment. | | | | fishes. |