The Puffer Forum

Hello, I was just wondering which one is better for the golden puffer. I currently have gravel in my 30g tank and he seems to be doing fine. But I just wanted to know if he would be happier with sand...

thanks once again for your never ending wisdom and unrivalled beauty.

I personally find gravel easier to clean when doing a WC with a Python gravel cleaner.

I'm using a bucket currently. I have to add chemical to my water before I add it and I'm unsure you can do that with the Python gravel cleaner which I just learned about a few hours ago... thanks to this site.


Best site ever, btw

Thanks, we try!

I add Prime directly to the tank, before refilling. Did that with Dechlor for 25 years before using Prime.

mhmmm... that makes sense. I was told to mix the prime in the water before adding because it couls shock the fish.

Not true....I use Prime in all my tanks...FW, BW, and SW. Straight in the tank before refilling.

As for substrate,....I prefer sand because with sufficient water flow, it does not ever need to be cleaned or vacuumed.

Pool filter sand for FW,...sugar fine sand for BW and SW

I think I will have to get sand for my next tank set up. changing it now would cost alot and put the fish through more stress than what it's worth.

Sand x10. Sand is so much cleaner than gravel. And if you don't mind the tan color pool filter sand is about $8 for a 50 pound bag. PFS is extremely clean right out of the bag too.

I'm gonna start replacing my PFS though...The black sand just makes all the colors "pop". The decor stands out and the fish color up so well with it.

Black sand can also make all your fish go dark, trying to match their surroundings.

Pufferpunk wrote:Black sand can also make all your fish go dark, trying to match their surroundings.

I never thought of that before... but it makes sense.I currently have black gravel in my tank, but I also have lots of colorful green java fern in there to give the tank some color and give little Spartacus a place to explore or hide if he wants to be alone.

JRC3 wrote:Sand x10. Sand is so much cleaner than gravel. And if you don't mind the tan color pool filter sand is about $8 for a 50 pound bag. PFS is extremely clean right out of the bag too.

I'm gonna start replacing my PFS though...The black sand just makes all the colors "pop". The decor stands out and the fish color up so well with it.

I was thinking about that. Right now I think I will keep the gravel, but I think I will upgrade in the distant future. There are still so many little things I want to add or perfect before I go messing with something that is working fine.


But also out of curiosity doesn't sand get tightly compacted not allowing water flow into it? Because I have read that and thought how was the bacteria in the sand going to do it's job of helping to maintain waste. But I guess with a puffer your doing water changes so often it must not matter a whole lot, but I still like setting up the tank with every benefit.

IMHO & IME, gravel is far easier to maintain than sand.

Don't kid yourself that sand does not need cleaning. It does.

Sand needs thorough stirring (even under decor), weekly.

Not kidding myself at all,.....but if set up properly sand does not need cleaning. You need to have enough flow in the tank to keep the debris in the water column.
IME I have had it for the last 5 years,....never had to vacuum and my tanks are all spotless. I use a 1 inch sand bed and I have MTS snails to stir it up for me......never had a problem.

Just because you have not been able to achieve it does not mean it is not possible.

How is yours set up?

jtbadco wrote: As for substrate,....I prefer sand because with sufficient water flow, it does not ever need to be cleaned or vacuumed.

Pool filter sand for FW,...sugar fine sand for BW and SW

Where does a person buy pool filter sand ? Sounds like the price is right!