Marbles or Gravel?

ikermalli · 10-20-2007, 10:39 PM

Tomorrow I am going to my LFS and I was wondering, should I get marbles or gravel for the bottom of my tank, will it be harder to clean and also will they be able to go through the gravel vacuum or should I suck the water out with the gravel vacuum take out the marbles then take out all the waste?

kbjunior8 · 10-20-2007, 10:51 PM

marbles look nicer but i think gravels are more comfortable for the fish. I guess its your decision
btw in the private message you said beside my name is showed an a + what did you mean

ikermalli · 10-20-2007, 10:52 PM

are you sure gravel is more comfortable for the fish? I know when I ask questions like this it pisses u off but how do u know?

kbjunior8 · 10-20-2007, 10:53 PM

no it dosent piss me off at all lol but i dunno i have gravel and my betta sleeps on gravel a lot so thts why i thought that. Like i said what do you mean a +

mesapod · 10-20-2007, 10:56 PM

waste gets caught in marbles easier so it would be harder to get out. Im a fan of gravel not marbles but if you like marbles you should get them. Its accually hard to figure out if gravel s more comfortable than marbles. think gravel looks nicer and there isn't big gaps. I think marbles would be cheaper than gravel because you dont need as many.

Kevin

kbjunior8 · 10-20-2007, 10:57 PM

thats true too yo imran can you answer my question bout the a +

ikermalli · 10-20-2007, 11:50 PM

I did on the phone and mesapod, you make alot of sense thanks for that help, i'll be getting some gravel tomorrow, and probably another betta!

mesapod · 10-21-2007, 12:01 AM

no problem and i hope your bettas are happy

ikermalli · 10-21-2007, 12:43 AM

do plakats stay short finned or do their fins grow out? I have been intrigued by them so tomorrow I am going to probably get a 2.5G (i know its small but i'm only 13) and a red plakat most probably

mesapod · 10-21-2007, 12:55 AM

umm im dont know too much about betta tail types but im pretty sure plakats stay with short fins. I have my betta in a 2.5g with a little 3 gallon filter and its a veiltail

and the tank he is in

there are marbles at the bottom cause that was going to be a danio breeding tank

ikermalli · 10-21-2007, 12:56 AM

do three gallon filters work well? Also in such a small tank do they need to cycle? Because before today I knew nothing about cycling and now i know barely anything hahaha

ikermalli · 10-21-2007, 12:59 AM

how much did your filter cost?

mesapod · 10-21-2007, 01:06 AM

umm my grandma got me that filter like 4 or 5 years ago i have no idea what it costs. I don't know how long it would take to cycle a 2.5gallon tank but it takes like 2 to 4 weeks to cycle a ten gallon so i would imagine it would take a quarte of that time to cycle a 2.5 gallon. just maybe put a little gravel from one pf youre cycles tanks into the 2.5g and maybe it will cycle a little

Kevin

ikermalli · 10-21-2007, 01:47 AM

alright, will do

anasfire23 · 10-21-2007, 04:14 AM

I've never cycled the tanks I put my bettas in. not saying it isn't an idea to do it, just that it isn't all that necessary.

ikermalli · 10-21-2007, 07:19 AM

okay, thanks anasfire, but will the betta be okay with high ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels?

anasfire23 · 10-21-2007, 07:24 AM

well no, but that's why it is recommended to do frequent water changes even if they are in a tank that has a filter.

ikermalli · 10-21-2007, 07:26 AM

okay, I will is every 3-5 days in a 2.5G sufficient changes of water? Also if I do change water should I do maybe 50% every 4 days?

fishbguy · 10-21-2007, 08:10 AM

I've never cycled one of my tanks. Actually, I cycled my 20, but for all my other tanks, I put water in them, filter media from one of my other tanks, and fish in all in the same day, and I've neer had a fish die.

I would use gravel. Marbles are too big IMO, and I've had fish get stuck between marbles before. Gravel is also easier to clean IMO, and because the holes between gravel are soo much smaller than in marbles, it hides the dirt. IME, with marbles, you can see the dirt an dstuff between the marbles.

ikermalli · 10-21-2007, 08:15 AM

okay, how does a gravel vacuum work? Do i just take out all the gravel with it and rinse it and only put the gravel back in? Or does it have enough power that when I am sucking out the water all the waste will come out?

10-20-2007, 10:39 PM	#1
ikermalli Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 708	Marbles or Gravel? Tomorrow I am going to my LFS and I was wondering, should I get marbles or gravel for the bottom of my tank, will it be harder to clean and also will they be able to go through the gravel vacuum or should I suck the water out with the gravel vacuum take out the marbles then take out all the waste?

10-20-2007, 10:56 PM	#5
mesapod Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Northern BC Age: 18 Posts: 302	waste gets caught in marbles easier so it would be harder to get out. Im a fan of gravel not marbles but if you like marbles you should get them. Its accually hard to figure out if gravel s more comfortable than marbles. think gravel looks nicer and there isn't big gaps. I think marbles would be cheaper than gravel because you dont need as many. Kevin __________________ Kevin's (My) Tanks *10 gallon tank* - Empty *10 gallon planted tank-3x guppies 30 gallon*- 5x neon tetras-3x peppered cories-4xotos

10-21-2007, 12:01 AM	#8
mesapod Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Northern BC Age: 18 Posts: 302	no problem and i hope your bettas are happy __________________ Kevin's (My) Tanks *10 gallon tank* - Empty *10 gallon planted tank-3x guppies 30 gallon*- 5x neon tetras-3x peppered cories-4xotos

10-21-2007, 12:55 AM	#10
mesapod Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Northern BC Age: 18 Posts: 302	umm im dont know too much about betta tail types but im pretty sure plakats stay with short fins. I have my betta in a 2.5g with a little 3 gallon filter and its a veiltail and the tank he is in there are marbles at the bottom cause that was going to be a danio breeding tank __________________ Kevin's (My) Tanks *10 gallon tank* - Empty *10 gallon planted tank-3x guppies 30 gallon- 5x neon tetras-3x peppered cories-4xotos Last edited by mesapod; 10-21-2007 at 12:58 AM.*

10-21-2007, 01:06 AM	#13
mesapod Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Northern BC Age: 18 Posts: 302	umm my grandma got me that filter like 4 or 5 years ago i have no idea what it costs. I don't know how long it would take to cycle a 2.5gallon tank but it takes like 2 to 4 weeks to cycle a ten gallon so i would imagine it would take a quarte of that time to cycle a 2.5 gallon. just maybe put a little gravel from one pf youre cycles tanks into the 2.5g and maybe it will cycle a little Kevin __________________ Kevin's (My) Tanks *10 gallon tank* - Empty *10 gallon planted tank-3x guppies 30 gallon- 5x neon tetras-3x peppered cories-4xotos Last edited by mesapod; 10-21-2007 at 01:09 AM.*

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10-20-2007, 10:51 PM	#2
kbjunior8 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ontario Posts: 172	marbles look nicer but i think gravels are more comfortable for the fish. I guess its your decision btw in the private message you said beside my name is showed an a + what did you mean

10-20-2007, 10:52 PM	#3
ikermalli Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 708	are you sure gravel is more comfortable for the fish? I know when I ask questions like this it pisses u off but how do u know?

10-20-2007, 10:53 PM	#4
kbjunior8 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ontario Posts: 172	no it dosent piss me off at all lol but i dunno i have gravel and my betta sleeps on gravel a lot so thts why i thought that. Like i said what do you mean a +

10-20-2007, 10:57 PM	#6
kbjunior8 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ontario Posts: 172	thats true too yo imran can you answer my question bout the a +

10-20-2007, 11:50 PM	#7
ikermalli Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 708	I did on the phone and mesapod, you make alot of sense thanks for that help, i'll be getting some gravel tomorrow, and probably another betta!

10-21-2007, 12:43 AM	#9
ikermalli Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 708	do plakats stay short finned or do their fins grow out? I have been intrigued by them so tomorrow I am going to probably get a 2.5G (i know its small but i'm only 13) and a red plakat most probably

10-21-2007, 12:56 AM	#11
ikermalli Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 708	do three gallon filters work well? Also in such a small tank do they need to cycle? Because before today I knew nothing about cycling and now i know barely anything hahaha

10-21-2007, 12:59 AM	#12
ikermalli Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 708	how much did your filter cost?

10-21-2007, 01:47 AM	#14
ikermalli Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 708	alright, will do

10-21-2007, 04:14 AM	#15
anasfire23 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gold Coast, Queensland Australia Age: 26 Posts: 583	I've never cycled the tanks I put my bettas in. not saying it isn't an idea to do it, just that it isn't all that necessary. __________________ ~60L Planted Community Tank~ Plants: 1 x Elodea Fish: 3 Month old guppy fry, mixed sex, 4 M & 3 F guppies, 1 x 10m old M DC Fry ~Male Bettas:~ Robin - HM or Delta CT Cyborg & Slade DC Fry Braedan - CT & Proud Daddy ~Female Bettas~ Starbuck & Scarlet CT Girls 190L (50G) Planted Tank Plants: 3 x Jungle Val, 1 x Ludwidgia Fish: 6 x Harlequin Rasboras, 6 Black, 5 glowlight & 12 Neon tetras, 2 Common Pleco's

10-21-2007, 07:19 AM	#16
ikermalli Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 708	okay, thanks anasfire, but will the betta be okay with high ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels?

10-21-2007, 07:24 AM	#17
anasfire23 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Gold Coast, Queensland Australia Age: 26 Posts: 583	well no, but that's why it is recommended to do frequent water changes even if they are in a tank that has a filter. __________________ ~60L Planted Community Tank~ Plants: 1 x Elodea Fish: 3 Month old guppy fry, mixed sex, 4 M & 3 F guppies, 1 x 10m old M DC Fry ~Male Bettas:~ Robin - HM or Delta CT Cyborg & Slade DC Fry Braedan - CT & Proud Daddy ~Female Bettas~ Starbuck & Scarlet CT Girls 190L (50G) Planted Tank Plants: 3 x Jungle Val, 1 x Ludwidgia Fish: 6 x Harlequin Rasboras, 6 Black, 5 glowlight & 12 Neon tetras, 2 Common Pleco's

10-21-2007, 07:26 AM	#18
ikermalli Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 708	okay, I will is every 3-5 days in a 2.5G sufficient changes of water? Also if I do change water should I do maybe 50% every 4 days?

10-21-2007, 08:10 AM	#19
fishbguy I'm watching you Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: michigan Age: 17 Posts: 1,864	I've never cycled one of my tanks. Actually, I cycled my 20, but for all my other tanks, I put water in them, filter media from one of my other tanks, and fish in all in the same day, and I've neer had a fish die. I would use gravel. Marbles are too big IMO, and I've had fish get stuck between marbles before. Gravel is also easier to clean IMO, and because the holes between gravel are soo much smaller than in marbles, it hides the dirt. IME, with marbles, you can see the dirt an dstuff between the marbles. __________________ I think about you in the summertime And all the good times we had, baby It’s been a few years and I can’t deny The thought of you still makes me crazy I think about you in the summertime Summertime - New Kids On The Block

10-21-2007, 08:15 AM	#20
ikermalli Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 708	okay, how does a gravel vacuum work? Do i just take out all the gravel with it and rinse it and only put the gravel back in? Or does it have enough power that when I am sucking out the water all the waste will come out?

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