gravel question for qt

[onemako]

spoke with a gentleman at my lfs and we discussed some qt questions. He stated that he use to always go bare bottom but has recently placed three or four pyrex dishes filled with sand in the qt. He felt that the bacteria was able to colonize more readily and maintain itself. I have been just bare bottom. What is the general feeling, he also stated if any disease issues arose that he just tossed out the sand, sterilized and used the dishes and new sand.

 

[nereefpat]

To me, the only good reason to use sand in a fish QT is if you have fish that need sand. Halichoeres wrasses for example, as they sleep and hide in sand.

A problem that creates is that calcium based sands absorb meds, making it difficult to dose and maintain therapeutic levels.

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

No sand in the medicated qt unless wrasses need it.

I bought a 10 lb bag of silica sand for the specifically and multiple wrasses have made an easy home in it.

So far is the requirement for bacterial colonization, I personally think that's overblown.

Your filtration should be your bacterial colony. Sponge filter, hob, canister will have all the bac needed.

 

[bnord]

No sand in the medicated qt unless wrasses need it.

I bought a 10 lb bag of silica sand for the specifically and multiple wrasses have made an easy home in it.

So far is the requirement for bacterial colonization, I personally think that's overblown.

Your filtration should be your bacterial colony. Sponge filter, hob, canister will have all the bac needed.

second this notion and I keep silica in a small pyrex dish just for wrasses
otherwise any substrate the can bind medications keeps you testing or guessing, or both