Petshrimp.com Discussion Forum

Hey all, I am setting up a 90g tank, I plan to keep live plants and inverts. I was wondering if sand is a better substrate then gravel. As of now I have 3 15 pound bags of flourite and 75 pounds of gravel to put over the flourite. Should I switch the gravel out for sand? If so any recommendations?

Sand or gravel does not seem make a whole lot of difference. The only thing about gravel is that it traps dirt and food particles more easily than sand. That's organic material that is not accessible to the shrimp. I have tanks with sand and tanks with gravel and the shrimp seem to do fine on both. The gravel tanks only have a very thin layer of gravel, though, barely covering the bottom.

I don't really like gravel for plants because it is too coarse for rooting plants, but I do really like the flourite. I have it in one of my tanks and the plants grow very nicely.

I've recently been using sand in all new tanks and really like it a lot. The black colored "Tahitian Moon Sand" looks really great and highlights the inverts nicely.

In the tanks that still have gravel, I have a hard time keeping plants rooted in the substrate. Eventually I will make the switch to sand.

I have a layer of flourite with a layer of tahitian moon in my palaemonetes and neocaridina overflow tank. It is also home to the axolotl and many plants.

I am not particularlly fond gravel. First of all Mr. Axolotl can eat it and get sick. Secondly, My plants see to root better/less chances of mr. axolotl uprooting them. Third, I find sand a bit easier to clean. Fourth, I canwatch snails forage/burrow in it. Mr Shrimp also love picking up individual sand particles and explore the sand that way at times. Well, that is my opinion about sand vs. gravel. Sorry about the axolotl talk, but that was my first experience with a planted tank on sand and a few years later the palaemonetes came and the juviniles are growing well and thriving. My cherries do no live in the axolotl house as of now (too cold for reproduction) but they are on a stright up white sand substrate. I have another idle 20L(former aragonite land) I plan to switch to a flourite/black sand lightly planted.

Good luck with your substrate descision!

thanks for the suggestions all, I think I will return the gravel and pick up the moon sand instead.

thanks!

I've recently been using sand in all new tanks and really like it a lot. The black colored "Tahitian Moon Sand" looks really great and highlights the inverts nicely.

I have the same experience as Yucca

I have Eco-Complete in all of my tanks. All my shrimp stand out nicely on it, the plants love it, and holds yummies for the shrimp.

I have eco complete mixed with flourite in my tanks mostly black with bits of red here and there. Really nice looking.

I think shrimp prefer sand, they spend lots of time sifting through it and turning over the grains, they seem to find lots of food on it.

Yes sand would be better for shrimp for reasons spoken above.
Although the food and waist seep through the cracks in the gravel, having enough frill plants will save enough morsels for shrimpy enjoyment!

I like gravel better, but that is due to the fact I use under gravel filters. Sand doesn't work for that. My shrimp pick at the gravel, so I don't think it is an issue.

I grow Java Moss and Java Fern and hornwort. They don't need a substrate.

I have 3 coarsenesses of sand and very small pea-gravel and they all work fine.

It seems to be left up to personal preference.

John

What are the natural habitats of the most common freshwater shrimp from Asia anyway? I always pictured rocky streams carpeted in algae and maybe some grass down in the pools. Any benefit to replicating the native habitats?

Any benefit to replicating the native habitats?

I do not know the natural habitats of the shrimp from asia but I think there is a benefit. If nature has provided a balanced ecosystem that has allowed the shrimp to survive, reproduce and thrive I think that would be a habitat worth replicating

I have very good experience with use of aquarium root chips or shavings: