Gravel advice sought.

To: Aquatic-Plants at actwin_com
Subject: Gravel advice sought.
From: benson at znet_com (Nicky Wilson)
Date: Mon, 12 Feb 1996 06:02:26 -0800 (PST)


Hello people!

I'm just starting to set up my first big planted tank (60 gallon acrylic),
and I need some help with gravel.

Most likely I'll be getting my gravel in bulk from a local landscaping
outfit (since getting enough gravel from a pet shop to make a five inch bed
would cost me a mint!), and basically am wondering what I should look for,
and what to avoid.  

My big considerations are that I need a rounded gravel (to help minimize
scratches, and for the sake of my bottom-feeding fish), which won't
drastically change my water's pH (I keep it at 7.4).  Would run-of-the-mill
rocks and pebbles be fine?  What about sand?  Any other recommendations?

FWIW, I'm not using a UGF, and I'm not going to go nuts with the whole
substrate thing (not yet, anyway)...the best I'll do is C02 injection and
ball-form laterite.

Thanks for any help!


Nicky
benson at sd_znet.com
http://www.lookup.com/Homepages/83065/