Are all sands alike?

[Yellowlab]

I am lucky to live in the Panhandle of Florida (we have the most beautiful beaches in the world). The Sugar White Quartz sand is all around me. Would this sand be a good substraight for my Yellow Labs?

Right now I have 30-40 lbs of regular (Wal Mart) tan colored gravel rock in my (Wal-Mart) 50 gallon tank which my (LFS) Yellow Labs have no trouble picking up and moving to make their beds. What would be the advantages of switching to sand? Would our Florida Sand be acceptable? (or what sand should I buy?)

Would this be an important transistion to a more Cichlid friendly tank environment? Do the fish even care?

Thank you in advance for your comments.

 

[Toby_H]

Any locally collected materials are likely to have bugs and/or bacteria in them.

Also since your beach sand comes from a salt water environment it will have minerals and such that are desireable for salt water environments... but possibly not so desirable in fresh water environments...

Since Pool Filter Sand is about $8 for 50 lbs... washes up very easily... I see no reason to take risks with locally collected sand.

 

[Yellowlab]

Thank you for your rapid response and your informative insight nc_nutcase. My main concern is in providing a better environment for my Yellow Labs (African Cichlids). They seem to be well adjusted to the gravel (Roughly 5/16 " size). Is there any benefit to making the change from gravel to sand?

 

[freshwaterz]

Any locally collected materials are likely to have bugs and/or bacteria in them.

Also since your beach sand comes from a salt water environment it will have minerals and such that are desireable for salt water environments... but possibly not so desirable in fresh water environments...

Since Pool Filter Sand is about $8 for 50 lbs... washes up very easily... I see no reason to take risks with locally collected sand.

+1

 

[Toby_H]

In my experience... tanks with sand substrate are much easier to keep clean...

With gravel waste/debris easily falls between the rocks and is then out of sight. When my tanks look good I am more likely to put off cleaning them, or am more likely to give them a quick cleaning.

Sand keeps the waste/debris on the top of the substrate where the currents are more likely to carry it to the filter intakes. Whatever is not picked up by the filters sits right there on top staring me in the face. It's hard to put off cleaning when the need is obvious. It's hard to do a quick cleaning when it's obvious I need to give it an overhaul...

The sooner we remove waste/debris the less time it has to break down into ammonia/nitrite/nitrate.

Beyond cleanliness... as long as the fish themselves can sift/dig in the gravel then I don't think they care either way. I have found some of my SA/CA Cichlids that didn't dig in gravel now dig in sand. This leads me to believe it is easier or more 'comfortable' for them to dig/sift sand... but since yours are doing fine with gravel, obviously they don't mind it.

 

[Angler]

Those beaches for beautiful for sure. I went to Destin on vacation a few years ago and the sand was pure white.

 

[Yellowlab]

Thank you nc_nutcase and Angler. I live in Fort Walton, Work in Destin, and own several acres along with one really nice beach view lot in South Walton County. The Beaches are 600 miles long, pristine and are free to the public. Although I love the deep blue waters of Cozumel, our beaches are much easier to enjoy.