Hi, i have a 75 i would like to fill with sand and i'd like to go the cheap route, and a friend of mine has pool filter sand in his tank. now i dont know much about that type of sand other than the fact that it is cheap, and im crossminded about getting pool filter sand, or just play sand. so, does anyone have some good info about pool filter sand? and please post pictures of it if you do, Thanks!
Pool filter sand Questions
- Thread starter bounce217
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10 dollars for 50 lbs...I used 250 lbs in a 8 ft tank and I have a couple of inches deep...can't beat the price.
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I have play sand. You have to HEAVILY wash it before putting it in your tank. Otherwise it gets nasty and their are details you'd probably not like to know. Just make double sure you have washed it super clean.
I have pfs and its ok ...my recomendation would be NOT to use play sand...thinner ,,more movement,,,I actually like pea pebbles from home depot better ...but if you really want sand ,pfs (about 50 lbs.) should work well....
Yea I like the pea pebbles too. They look amazing. I recommend the pea pebbles over anything else.
Pool filter sand is used for many reasons, one, because it is inert, won't change water chemistry.
It is small enough in grain size, that it keeps waste from slipping into the substrate and decomposing, pea gravel can allow this to occur because of the large gaps between grains(why I don't use it) other a than interspersed on top of the sand to create a natural look. Play sand can also compact itself to become almost akin to cement.
PFS is also heavy enough to not be easily stirred up, and get into, and ruin pump impellers like play sand has the tendency to do.
The tank below uses PFS
Some people don't like how waste doesn't disappear into it, I find this forces me to vacuum, which I think is a healthy thing for the system.
It is small enough in grain size, that it keeps waste from slipping into the substrate and decomposing, pea gravel can allow this to occur because of the large gaps between grains(why I don't use it) other a than interspersed on top of the sand to create a natural look. Play sand can also compact itself to become almost akin to cement.
PFS is also heavy enough to not be easily stirred up, and get into, and ruin pump impellers like play sand has the tendency to do.
The tank below uses PFS
Some people don't like how waste doesn't disappear into it, I find this forces me to vacuum, which I think is a healthy thing for the system.
I guess it looks more like beach sand. natural. I would still prefer pfs over play sand. Im not a fan of the beach look. Also I have never had a problem with play sand being too small grain. Mine settles easily like rock.
I have play sand in my tank. I like the natural look it has. It help bring out natural colors in the fish especially with cichlids. The only down side I've noticed about it is that it doesn't bring out darker colors in darker fish. Other then that i had problems at first getting it to settle when first put in the tank but I think it was my fault cause I just like dropped it in.
The sand PETCO sells is pretty similar to pfs but its not as cheap.
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The sand PETCO sells is pretty similar to pfs but its not as cheap.
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