Question: Sand over gravel?

[Elliriyanna]

I have a cycled tank that I would like to use for my new FBN for a little while. However this tank has medium black gravel ( Only about 1 cm) but I need the BB from it to avoid a mini cycle ... Could I place about half an inch of sand over the gravel to avoid impaction? I plan to feed with Tongs.

 

[Minniechild]

Sorry, but axies do have the habit of digging...and digging...and digging... Chances are they'd be down to the gravel before you can say "What are you doing?!".
HOWEVER, what you could do (and I've done this in my tank) is use a mesh fabric to create bags, put the gravel into those, and THEN put the sand down on top of that That way, there isn't the risk of free floating gravel in the tank, and you still get the benefits of the bacteria. Just note that you'll need to get air/water going through the gravel to keep the bacteria alive. For example, in my tank (Which is six foot) I use a modified Walstad method- piping that leads to my canister and draws water and waste through the system, then a layer of filter batting (the same as the 100% polyester stuff you use for quilting),followed by a layer of gravel in mesh bags, followed by a layer of organic soil and topped off with play sand. For me it works wonderfully, the axies are very happy, and the plants I've got in there are going gangbusters.
Whilst it's just an example, I hope it gives you some ideas on which direction to head with yours!

 

[Elliriyanna]

This isnt for an Axolotl its for a Fire Belly Newt so I don't know that the habits are the same.

 

[maghan6]

I would also recommend putting the gravel in mesh bags to prevent the newt from accidentally ingesting gravel... Axolotls and fbn both bad about becoming impacted when kept on gravel...however, your filter will contain the majority of bacteria so as long as the filter has been cycled with the tank, you could do away with the gravel completely.

 

[Elliriyanna]

Well my boyfriend drained the tank so I have to start all over ... my only.cycled filter is the bettas now