Cheap Substrate for Big Tanks?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Slim2634

Slim2634

Plecostomus
MFK Member
May 8, 2006
1,504
80
51
34
Central Ohio
I am getting a 210 gallon tank Wednesday and don't really like the look of bare bottom tanks. I know play sand is cheap but would really like gravel. Is sand hard to keep clean? I'd definitely consider it if persuaded, just never had a sand bottom tank. Are their any other cheap substrate options for filling up a tank that needs 200 lbs of substrate?
 
Once you go sand, you never go back.

Super easy to maintain, super cheap, best looking substrate. You really can't go wrong. I use Quikrete Playsand in all my tanks but that's just because I can't find Pool Filter Sand in my area.
 
Tile! Just drop it in. All the easy cleaning awesomeness of bare-bottom and it looks awesome.

I hate sand. Gets in your filters and powerheads, makes your tank cloudy, stores crap, hard to clean, hard to remove... aaaaahh!!
 
BlackShark11k;4336725; said:
I hate sand. Gets in your filters and powerheads, makes your tank cloudy, stores crap, hard to clean, hard to remove... aaaaahh!!
Click to expand...

you're clearly doing it wrong then.
 
pool filter sand is the best way to go .. here it is $8 for a 50lb bag .. poop sits on top so easy to suck out .. and it stays at the bottom of the tank ...

just make sure you rinse and rinse and rinse before you add it ..
 
Pool filter sand is GREAT! FYI it's in the garden section at Home Depot. It's not with all the other sand that they sell. I don't think I'll ever use anything else. Also, if you wash it really well your tank will never be cloudy because of the sand. I just set up a tank Thursday, crystal clear from day one.
 
Pool filter or play sand work... like everybody else has said you just need to clean it. Go to Home depot, buy 3 50lbs bags and 4 of those orange 5 gallon buckets. Fill the buckets half full with sand, find something that you can use to put under the bucket to keep it at an angle... put the water hose in it and there you go. The dust and stuff will rise to the top and run off toward the lower end of the bucket.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom