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Q- What should I do about my cichlids digging up the substrate on my Under Gravel Filter (UGF)?
A- I sandwiched nylon screen door mesh from Eagle hardware in the gravel on my first UG filter set up. The Zebras dug down to the gravel and then I had bits of gray screen exposed. This last time I moved the tank, I set up a bit differently. First the UGF, then a layer of cichlid mix gravel, a sheet of screen door mesh, a section of plastic diffuser grid that is supposed to go in overhead florescent lighting fixtures, and then topped it off with well-broke-in aquarium gravel.
The fish can only dig so far and then they hit the grid. This way they don't stir up the cichlid mix and muck up the water, either. Before I changed the setup, they were able to tunnel under the rockery - I was waiting for a rock to shift and squash somebody. The grid holds the rocks in place.
A- Go to your local Wal-Mart and look in the crafts section for plastic mesh used for yarn stitching - it comes in a couple of different sizes. You can
buy enough for a 55-gallon tank for about $1. Place a layer in your substrate about 1" or 1 1/2" above your filter plate, then finish placing the sand or gravel. You might also look into using crushed oyster shells - nice color and very cheap - if you don't mind lots of washing before you place in tank. Serve much the same purpose as crushed coral at much less cost --- personally I like the color much better. Available at local coops for about $4.00 per 50 lb. bag (they use it for chicken feed supplement) It does pack a little tighter than coral, but much less than sand. Also makes a good mix with sand for tanks without UGF - adds some grays and darker colors.
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