help choosing right type and grit of sand pls.

[chiroken]

Good news, found local sand! Looking for advice on type and grit (not sure if grit is correct term?). It will go in a 300g 8'x2'x31" tank with a large sump. Fish will be african peacocks and haps. I will also have rockwork.

I found silica sand that comes in 20/30 and 70 grit. The 70 is quite powdery and is nice and white. The 20/30 has more off white and abit of tan in it. I prefer the 70 but concerned it is too fine. I would be happy if I could even gravel vac the substrate rather than trying to siphon just above the surface.
Silica bag:

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All three products compared:

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I also came across sand nickel slag. Is this sandblasting sand? It at first appears black but has abit of a greenish tinge to it. Not sure what this is, I know some use sandblasting sand. I'm undecided on white or black. Right now just happy I found it. Grits are 16/36, 20/50, 30/50.
Slag bag:

Grits:

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Any and all advice and comments appreciated.
Thanks

 

[joe jaskot]

The way african cichlids dig, you don't want sand that is too fine. Also be sure to put a prefilter on your filter intakes to prevent the fish from spitting the sand into your intake.

 

[chiroken]

The way african cichlids dig, you don't want sand that is too fine. Also be sure to put a prefilter on your filter intakes to prevent the fish from spitting the sand into your intake.

I plan on only running a sump so the water will pass through several layers of matt before reaching anything mechanical (ie return pump). Hope that's good enough!

 

[lp85253]

get the largest grain sand that you can , the less it moves around in the tank the less problems you will have...

 

[chiroken]

I"m thinking the 20/30# will be better and that the 70# will be too fine. Anyone with info on the slag and its possible use?

 

[rodger]

My rule of thumb is small gravel/sand a little larger then mini food pellets.