sand or gravel ??? please help (weather loach)

[Camladd]

ive been told my weather loach will want to dig and therefore i need sand in my tank,, i currently hav gravel an i have been told it will damage the loach as they like to bury themselves,, is this true.....also if i hve sand in my tan will i lose it via my siphon :/ please help thanks

 

[sheepylizzy]

It is true that they like to bury themselves but i have gravel in my tank since i've had mine and i haven't had any problems. But about your siphon, i wouldn't know sorry.

 

[Friedbread]

Although sand is recommended, they will survive in gravel substrate as long as it is not sharp and the pieces are not large. Small gravel that is smooth and round will be gentler on their noses. Sand is a lot more work and mess.

 

[darkridder]

I use gravel vacs and I lose very little sand durring my water changes, and thats even with using the type that you hook up to the sink. You will loose some, but honestly it is very little. I have had this tank up for several years and it still looks like there was as much as in there as I had started it.

The only thing about sand, be sure you get trumpet snails in the tank. I know your loach will help with sand sifting, but the snails will keep it very well turned keeping from getting anerobic spots. And the snails help keep the tank clean, I rarely scrub algae, and they keep my live plants looking great. And if you want to do live plants, they thrive so much better in a sand bottom over a gravel bottom. My plants go nuts in my tank vrs when I used to do gravel, they slowly grew.