Changing to Sand

[neizzle]

Hey guys, new member here...

But I have a 55 gallon tank with an oscar and jack dempsey. It currently has big black/white speckled rocks at the bottom and I was thinking about changing to sand... is there a good kind of sand to use? or do any work? thanks a lot

 

[proaquatics]

pool sand

 

[CichlidAddict]

Anything large-grained like pool filter sand would work. Rinse it out well first.
I've also heard 3M color quartz (T grade) works well if you can find it.

 

[cornbread_5]

3m color quartz is the way to go and you do not have to worry about rinising it at all but if u want to you can see for yourself that , that first rinse will be clear

 

[IKeepPacu]

if you goto a local home depot/lowes, or find a local stone-yard, you can get silica sand. i got mine for $4.99 for a 100lb bag.

i use silica sand on every tank i have, except my stingray, and ive never had any problems at all with it.

 

[Delhezi222]

Agreed, colorquartz 3m sand is great.

 

[AmandaP]

Do not use play sand!!! It is too fine and will mess up your impellers (I learned the hard way on that one.) Pool sand or 100% silica sand blasting sand is what I use now. It works great and the fish love it and it is cheap. But rinse it very well.

 

[Mylek]

fine grained sand blasting sand works well in my experience. You need to check that the grains are rounded and not edgy tho -so that them sand eaters can munch away without damaging their interiors. You do need to watch out for the currents your inlet and outlet make, but some testing takes care of that.

 

[2004exrider]

if you goto a local home depot/lowes, or find a local stone-yard, you can get silica sand. i got mine for $4.99 for a 100lb bag.

i use silica sand on every tank i have, except my stingray, and ive never had any problems at all with it.

Silica sand would make me really nervous about my fish's health, do you know what silica dust does to your lungs? I can't imagine it being ok for gills imo.

Jimmy

 

[midnight]

if you goto a local home depot/lowes, or find a local stone-yard, you can get silica sand. i got mine for $4.99 for a 100lb bag.

i use silica sand on every tank i have, except my stingray, and ive never had any problems at all with it.

thats like a tease,dont rays like sand?

and you are lucky to find sand that cheap at depot lowes.
they want 20 a box here for it.