SUBSTRATE QUESTION

[FrontosaurusRex]

I have a 55 gallon freshwater Angel tank and i'm wanting to change the substrate.  right now i have the typical blue rocks you buy at Petco.  i want to put pool filtered sand, but i dont know if the angels will like it.  ive never seen them mess with rocks before so i dont think they like to dig.  i have an african cichlid tank and they love the sand as do my frontosas.  anyway, will the sand make any difference to the health or happiness of my angels?

[CichlidFan]

Re: SUBSTRATE QUESTION

I am no expert on Angels, that is for sure, I don't even have one in any of my tanks, but I don't believe changing from gravel to sand is going to accomplish much for you or them.....It is my impression that Angels are pretty much a mid level tank dweller who does not pick at the gravel or feed off the bottom of the tank. I would do some further research on this sand project of yours just to be sure.

Good Luck with your research....we do have a few boxers here who do keep Angels, maybe they will chime in later and share their experience with you....I could be all wet on this one????

CF

[leahd626]

Re: SUBSTRATE QUESTION

I have a 55 with black sand and 9 angels and it doesnt seem to make a differance.

[imagirlgeek]

Re: SUBSTRATE QUESTION

We have angels in a tank with sand and they don't really seem to care one way or another.  :)

[liljack]

Re: SUBSTRATE QUESTION

might want to make sure the "switch" doesnt affect thier health....IMO

[myjohnson]

Re: SUBSTRATE QUESTION

some sands buffer ph up....something do you don't want. research before you buy the sand....no worries if your heart is set on PFS.

[armthehomeless]

Re: SUBSTRATE QUESTION

some sands buffer ph up....something do you don't want. research before you buy the sand....if your heart is set on it.

Pool filter sand does NOT affect water chemistry. You are okay there...

[myjohnson]

Re: SUBSTRATE QUESTION

I know PFS doesn't.....I have tons of it.  

What I mean is if he decides to go with something nicer than he might want to look into it.

[lachupacabra]

Re: SUBSTRATE QUESTION

just incase, when you change the gravel watch out for a mini cycle since a lot of the good bacteria is in the gravel and it might set off the balance.

[mahoro]

Re: SUBSTRATE QUESTION

whatever you do, don't get the pfs from lowes or homedepot, they are crap, they look like sand from galavestion...  spend a few bucks more and get it at a pool supply shop...

[FrontosaurusRex]

Re: SUBSTRATE QUESTION

thank you all for the excellent advice.  i really like the black sand, but the PFS from Leslie's is so clean looking. to me, it makes the colors of my other fish really stand out.  again, thanks for all the advice. happy new year

[TaTeR ToT]

Re: SUBSTRATE QUESTION

i would either go with pfs, or my favorite sand, 1mm black gravel, it comes in  10lb bags or their is a 30lb bag.
i had this in my electric blue jack dempseys tank, and my first red devils tank, really make colors pop.
i believe it is 1mm black quartz. it is kind of ahbrasive, so if you have fish that have sensitive skin and frequently brush the gravel or burry themselves, it is not a good choice, i also had it in my old 20g and 30g long tang tanks.

[FrontosaurusRex]

Re: SUBSTRATE QUESTION

i think i have decided to go with black sand.  i think it will look really good with the colors of my angels and the decor i have chosen.  hopefuilly i will have it all changed out my Tuesday and i will post some pics for you guys.  happy new year.  oh....if you guys get bored....check out www.myspace.com/boundbychaos

[fishlady]

Re: SUBSTRATE QUESTION

8O .........i couldn't understand a single word that was coming out of his mouth?????

[jeb102385]

Re: SUBSTRATE QUESTION

I will say in my experiance change to black rocks not sand I had some in a tank and I hated it. It got everywhere(in the filter in the heater and in the sink when I syphoned the tank) also it was hard to clean because my fish would stir it up and waste would get stuck in the sand bed and I couldn't syphon the sand bed cause it would pull sand from the tank