gravel and sand together

[sharonm]

Hey, just wondering if any members used both substrates in their tank and if so, would they post pics? I am thinking of using both and setting up an aquascape this way.

[Northernguy]

If you do the sand will fall and the gravel will rise.You will not see the sand unless you put a large amount!:22:

[sid101]

mixing diferent size substrates can be very helpfull since it both increases possible flow undergravel for your bacteria to have more nutrients flowing and increases surface area of the bacteria as well so you will have more bacteria than ussual.

Mixing substrates can be tricky as northernguy says: "the sand will fall and the gravel will rise" so you have to mix substrates that are not very diferent in size, in other cases you can separate both substrates with rocks or something else so it creates a good effect in your aquascaping.

Good luck with that if you choose to go through with it :)

[Deftec]

Did a U-Shape around the sides/back with gravel...and the front spot with sand.

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[MCHRKiller]

Here is a video of my old 40G planted using both small gravel and playsand:

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[MrJim]

Not a very good shot but ya get the idea~~I gravelled an area around the pickup tube so my goldfish would quit kickin up sand into the filter...

It also gives them another area to fool around in that's different from the sand..

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[Lindsey]

That could look really good if you got the balance right! Like Deftec's photo, even though it's not really a mix like sharon was presumably talking about, it looks awesome because the colors and textures are just right. I don't have a very harmonious eye for that kinda thing, so I'll have to stick with one or the other!

[sharonm]

Wow! Thanks so much!!! What gorgeous tanks and shots!!!!! I really like the look and will do the same in my new tank. I want a place for the rooted plants as well as play areas for my kuhli loaches. It will be interesting when I break own my 55, I see anywhere from 4 to 6 Kuhli's in the tank. I also have large, pebble gravel I am going to add so can't wait to start putting all of this together. I have driftwood and a new stand on order so hopefully by next weekend I can get started. I'll send pics when it is all done!! Thanks again for the great pics and sharing your tanks with me!

[frizzlefish]

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Here's a shot of my 29g. I have sand with the larger gravel as accents. The large pieces get tossed and mixed with the sand a bit, sort of disappearing into the sand at times. I blame the MTS and the pitbull plecos!

When I feed some veggie and have a fork in the tank anyhow, I just use that to "rake" out the stones and pile them up a bit again.

[sharonm]

I like the look! I picked up some larger gravel also. Now, what I have read about rooted plants is they do better in gravel. Any thoughts on that? I love all the pictures, very nice.

[Lady Hobbs]

I mixed some gravel in my sand. Saved me from having gas pockets.

[sharonm]

Great idea!!