Possibly a dumb question

[Noviceafter2yea]

I went to a Petco yesterday to get my credit for the two fish I had that died within the 30 day guarantee. The fish were kept in separate tanks.

I posted a while back a question as to why my glolight tetra was so fat. Internal parasite seemed to fit.

When I told the "aquatic specialist" my suspicion he said no, it was just pregnant.

So, as an egg layer, do they become pregnant? I was under the impression they don't. I get he is a petco employee, but naturally this was a red flag for me. I've learned a lot on this site along with my own research, so I asked a bunch of other questions that I pretty much know the answers to.

He seemed to have matching understanding with me about 60% of the time. I admit I am no expert.

He also said I should mix gravel with sand because sand requires much more upkeep.

I thought sand was easier to clean. No? I don't think anyone on this site recommended mixing sand and gravel.

Do I have a basis to be pseudo-ranting?

 

[dalto]

So, as an egg layer, do they become pregnant

Nope, they can be full of eggs though. However, that typically doesn't cause them to inflate like a balloon if that is what you were seeing.

He also said I should mix gravel with sand because sand requires much more upkeep.

I thought sand was easier to clean. No? I don't think anyone on this site recommended mixing sand and gravel.

Whether sand is easier to clean depends on personal preference. I find it much easier because everything just sits on top of the sand in low flow areas and you can suck it up. In high flow areas it tends to blow back up and get sucked into the filter. As opposed to gravel which allows detritus to fall down into it.

I have no idea how mixing gravel with it would be helpful at all.

The exception to this I suppose would be extremely fine sand which can blow all over the place. That is hardly the norm to use in aquariums though.

 

[Noviceafter2yea]

Nope, they can be full of eggs though. However, that typically doesn't cause them to inflate like a balloon if that is what you were seeing.


Whether sand is easier to clean depends on personal preference. I find it much easier because everything just sits on top of the sand in low flow areas and you can suck it up. In high flow areas it tends to blow back up and get sucked into the filter. As opposed to gravel which allows detritus to fall down into it.


I have no idea how mixing gravel with it would be helpful at all.

The exception to this I suppose would be extremely fine sand which can blow all over the place. That is hardly the norm to use in aquariums though.

Ok, that is what I thought. I asked if he meant having eggs and he said, well pregnant and then dropping the eggs instead of live birth. I guess u thought the eggs get fertilized outside.
Yes, the fish was huge - even if it had been "pregnant," but it swam around, ate, had regular breathing etc, and didn't seem to be dropsy or swim bladder. Then I just found it dead one morning.
I thought sand was better for the very reason you state.

Thanks.

 

[amyb_70]

sand and gravel mix - IMO no

I went to a Petco yesterday to get my credit for the two fish I had that died within the 30 day guarantee. The fish were kept in separate tanks.

He also said I should mix gravel with sand because sand requires much more upkeep.

I thought sand was easier to clean. No? I don't think anyone on this site recommended mixing sand and gravel.

Do I have a basis to be pseudo-ranting?

I will be right up front I am a noobie, only been at the hobby since April. I do have 2 aquariums though 1 has sand and the other has gravel w/ florite substrate (for better, easier growing of plants, since i am no good at that.. Anyway, I personally like the sand with 1 exception, when i removed some the aquarium got so mucky brown and smelled bad. I dont know if it is something i have done to cause the smell, i am pretty darn sure its not because i dont clean the aquarium enough. I say that because before i understood BB i was cleaning so good that i was going back to cycling the tank every week. I syphon and do about 30% water change every friday, if i see to much poo i will do a quick vaccum during the week.. again i felt sand is easy, i would use syphon to clean that just as i do gravel. I would think mixing sand and gravel would create one heck of a jumbled looking mess, IMO.... Not to mention the cleaning Ugh ... i also tried a couple differant kind of plants with the sand most didnt make it. I was told that its because the sand is so compact that the bottom and roots of the plant are not able to breathe, hense killing the plant... Now i have no clue about that, so i took the persons word for it. kind of.so all you people who know about that please jump in and help out the noobie and this fellow

Note: no question is stupid it only shows that you want to learn

 

[Noviceafter2yea]

I will be right up front I am a noobie, only been at the hobby since April. I do have 2 aquariums though 1 has sand and the other has gravel w/ florite substrate (for better, easier growing of plants, since i am no good at that.. Anyway, I personally like the sand with 1 exception, when i removed some the aquarium got so mucky brown and smelled bad. I dont know if it is something i have done to cause the smell, i am pretty darn sure its not because i dont clean the aquarium enough. I say that because before i understood BB i was cleaning so good that i was going back to cycling the tank every week. I syphon and do about 30% water change every friday, if i see to much poo i will do a quick vaccum during the week.. again i felt sand is easy, i would use syphon to clean that just as i do gravel. I would think mixing sand and gravel would create one heck of a jumbled looking mess, IMO.... Not to mention the cleaning Ugh ... i also tried a couple differant kind of plants with the sand most didnt make it. I was told that its because the sand is so compact that the bottom and roots of the plant are not able to breathe, hense killing the plant... Now i have no clue about that, so i took the persons word for it. kind of.so all you people who know about that please jump in and help out the noobie and this fellow

Note: no question is stupid it only shows that you want to learn

I would think the same exact thing about the sand and gravel combo. Seems it would defeat the purpose. I thought one of the benefits of sand is that it is so compact that there wouldn't be a lot of air pockets for filth to accumulate.

I considered live plants, but don't think I am skilled enough at this point to take the risk to my fish.

 

[amyb_70]

I would think the same exact thing about the sand and gravel combo. Seems it would defeat the purpose. I thought one of the benefits of sand is that it is so compact that there wouldn't be a lot of air pockets for filth to accumulate.

I considered live plants, but don't think I am skilled enough at this point to take the risk to my fish.

My fish do wonderful in the sand. Actually since adding sand neither of my aquariums parameters have been off, idk if that has anything to do with it. I think its just the nature of the beast, water on sand. I would also turn my sand on occasion to bring up anything that may have gotten down there. so i guess i created some of the darkening myself. I am sure someone w/ experiance can explain this. if its normal to get dirty looking when taking it out or if thats not good. note this happened when i removed the sand from one of the aquariums. and if you have a green thumb you will do great w/ plants, i am still so new that i am just dipping into that. i have learned about BB, about how important the water is just so for the fish, i can even keep a guppy alive now..... only took 4 months to get those things down, i hope plants dont take so long. i also got all the wrong advice from lfs and followed it, so i went backwards, to going in the direction of starting fresh. got rid of all the fish and everything.. thankful for all you people here who have taught me so much. and im babbleing.. sorry

 

[trennamw]

I have sand and gravel mixed because I wanted a riverbed effect. It doesn't make it easier to clean ... The detritus settles into the gravel down to the level of the sand. And to keep the mixed appearance I prefer I have to stir it a lot because I added too much gravel and it always ends up on top.


Sent from my iPhone with three hands tied behind my back.

 

[amyb_70]

I have sand and gravel mixed because I wanted a riverbed effect. It doesn't make it easier to clean ... The detritus settles into the gravel down to the level of the sand. And to keep the mixed appearance I prefer I have to stir it a lot because I added too much gravel and it always ends up on top.


Sent from my iPhone with three hands tied behind my back.

I would love to see a picture of that. I can't visualize it. It does seem like it would be harder to clean. I'd also assume every time you syphon you lose a little sand.


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[Fresh2o]

If the sand and gravel were nearly the same color (or not too far off) then I might attempt mixing both but generally not a fan of that. Something about the difference in size. That is until I saw this tank:
55 Gallon Community
Go to post #10. Really light on the gravel (probably pebbles) but nice river/stream bottom look. Tank belongs to Marconis.


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[amyb_70]

Fresh that is awesome looking. I had river stone scattered on my sand too. Got to fish the rocks out once in a while when they start to get sand covering them. Really rich and a nice fresh ocean beach feel about that aquarium.


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[Fresh2o]

Yes, that tank is very interesting and detailed despite the sparseness. I think the rock wall has a lot to do with it. My attention, though, is drawn to the pebbles.


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[Noviceafter2yea]

I think I will hold off on the gravel sand combo. After I take the leap and change to sand, I will make sure I've mastered the sand and then I can add the smooth river pebbles at a later time. I have the river pebbles now - switched away from gravel because my cories weren't looking so hot - but it seems the filth piles up faster now that I have the pebbles. Maybe because there is more space between them than with the gravel.

Don't know why I am stalling on sand. I've been planning on it for a while and posted a bunch of questions, but something is making me hesitate.

That tank really does look nice, but I don't think I am skilled enough to do it.

 

[amyb_70]

Hey if I can do sand anyone can. Rinse it really well, save a good portion of your water, move fish when you add the sand. Sometime ya just gotta do it, if it feels wrong, wait it out. You'll know when the time is right


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