Gravel in a tank

[Scooby333]

Hi all. I'm begginer in all this pleco thing. I have 3 L129 chocolate zebras plecs at the moment, they live in community tank. When I setup my tank I put nice black gravel on a bottom I've been said that is completely safe for all bottom fish. But now because I want some more plesos like L134 I start thinking to left one half of tank 60cm with this gravel and to another 60cm sand. Maybe some advice what to do to not let a gravel and sand mix together after time? Some divider between them?
Thanks
Pat

 

[bigbird]

even with a divider, some sand will mix accross as the Ls love to use their tails and swish the sand/gravel around. I would use some plastic as a divider or small rocks etc. It does not harm even to use no divider at all. cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[Lornek8]

Plecs can live perfectly fine wth gravel as a substrate, there is really no need to switch to sand. There could be major problems with sand and gravel mixing if the substrate depth is too deep. A deep gravel bed can work in some instances because the spaces between the gravel allows for water circulation. If however, sand were to mix with the gravel and fill some of the spaces, it could lead to stagnation in the substrate which can be very dangerous. I've used a sand/gravel mix before in tanks, you just need to watch the substrate depth and/or stir the substrate often.

 

[Scooby333]

Hmm...I don't know what to do now heh I just want them to feel comfortable and make for my plecos best environment I can, and get them maybe one day to breed

 

[Lornek8]

People breed plecs on sand substrate, gravel substrate, a mix of the two and even bare-bottomed tanks. Its more about what you like and what is the easist for you to keep clean.

 

[YAL05T]

Sand is often used with corydoras to protect their sensitive barbels. Generally plecos are a good bit hardier and will not have an issue with your gravel.

 

[Scooby333]

First of all I want thank all of you for help. I decided to change gravel for sand only. Secondly I bought today two baybes L134 ! They are beaut! :lol: and all my fishes look like they enjoy they new bottom substrate especially corys

 

[bigbird]

That is great news and the corys love digging innthe sand. Well done. Cheers jk :thumbup:

 

[Lornek8]

How deep is the sand? You can't have sand as deep as gravel because of the stagnation issue unless you've got Malaysian trumpet snails or something similar to keep the substrate aerated.

 

[Scooby333]

About 3cm deep. So how many I should have this snails you think for 4ft long tank ?

 

[Tener ds]

nice tank there mate,not sure on the skull tho but each to there own...