How Deep???

[ronald_j]

I'm going to keep peacock

cichlids using sand for the substrate. How deep would you keep the sand? Am I correct in thinking 1

inch or less???

[Pam Chin]

Hi Ron,

I think

definitely less then 1", really just a little sand is all you need, it is really just to give

your tank a more complete look. You don't want it too deep becaue if it is not moving around,

then there are all sorts of stuff growing in it. Some is good and some is bad, so besure you stir

up your sand when you clean your tank, to help remove the guck that gets stuck in it. Also vacuum

it regularly.

Cichlid Power!
Pam



<!--quoteo

(post=2492:date=Sep 21 2006, 07:08 PM:name=ronald_j)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ronald_j

@ Sep 21 2006, 07:08 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2492"><{POST_SNAPBACK}

></a></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm going to keep peacock cichlids using sand

for the substrate. How deep would you keep the sand? Am I correct in thinking 1 inch or less???<!-

-QuoteEnd--></div>

[Ron]

If this is a breeding tank, the

less sand the better IMO.

If this is a display tank, I think that nice aquascaping takes

more than 1" of sand myself.

[bobrfish]

<!--quoteo(post=2523:date=Sep

22 2006, 01:35 PM:name=Ron)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ron @ Sep 22 2006, 01:35

PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=2523)</div><div

class='quotemain'>If this is a breeding tank, the less sand the better IMO.

If this is a display tank, I think that nice aquascaping takes more than 1" of sand

myself.</div>
Yes, aquascaped tanks may require more than one

inch for appeal.

I agree with Pam. Less substrate is better. Substrate holds waste

that is breaking down into nitrogen so it must be vacuumed for best health of fish. Fine sand

substrates cannot be vacuumed without losing much of the sand. Anything over an inch of sand and

anerobic bacteria will grow in it for sure. Stir up two inch deep sand that has been undisturbed

for a month and the odor of hydrogen sulfide comes out of water. This gas is harmful at least and

can be deadly for our cichlids. If sand is substrate it has to be 1" or less.

Large grained substrates can be deeper but as pointed out, they must be vacuumed regularly.

Someone on cichlid forum created an air system grid under the substrate to aerate the substrate at

all times. Thus anerobic bacteria were never allowed to take hold in his tanks.

[Marco Arroyo]

I think 1 inch looks

great in the aquariums, i use to have them like that, the only problem is the periodically you need

to move the substrate and then make a siphoning process, greetings, and good luck