What do I need for an undergravel filter setup?

External Since: Nov 05, 2004 Posts: 15

"Larry Blanchard" <lblanch DeleteThis @fastmail.fm> wrote in message
news:2i6u6aFjmavmU1@uni-berlin.de...
| In article <40bce48f$0$4590$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk>,
| ContactMeUsingTheContactForm DeleteThis @sm9.co.uk says...
| > If not
| > gravel, then I'm certainly up for suggestions for alternatives, and will
| > keep a look out. Your suggestion for slightly larger rocks is probably
| > worth looking into - perhaps some pebbles?
| >
| There was a thread in this group or another aquaria group a
| while back about using sand instead of gravel. Won't get stuck
| in a fish's throat, and no big crevices for waste to hide in.
| And it looks natural. At least that was the proponents claims.
| As usual, there were differing opinions :-).

Yes, there always seems to be differing opinions wherever you go! :-) I
don't want opinions, I want facts! :-)

I think that we're more likely to look for small pebbles to replace the
gravel rather than sand, but you never know in the future. I've seen plenty
of tropical tanks in fish shops that have sand, and it does look very nice.

Ste

External Since: Oct 16, 2004 Posts: 200

In message <c9rdkh$nr7$1@news.mannford.ok.mbo.net>, Tom L. La Bron
<tllabron RemoveThis @cimtel.net> writes

<snip>

> One of the main reasons for water changes is nitrates and these can be
>kept at virtually zero if you let Philodendrons grow out of your tanks,
>the roots dangling into the tank water. The fish don't eat the roots or
>the stems that may be in the water, although they will pick at the
>roots, but are cleaning off the debris that catches on the roots at
>time.

Is this common practice? I know that philodendron are toxic to mammals -
are they ok for fish?

--
sophie