converting to sand/ ways to $ave

[sir charles]

i'm in the process of changing the lay out of a 55 gal. the substrate is a epoxy covered gravel. you know the kind u see in river beds. well i want sand but the bags at my lfs is kinda of weak, 15 bucks for a bag. well seeing that my tank could use at least 4 bags that is going to be expensive. so i thinking about some play sand at least i get my monies worth! lmao. frugal is my way or just being cheap. truth of the matter cant afford it. lmao. anyways would this work. how do one clean play sand, and is this wise? surely i don't want none of my fish to get ill. THEN again how about sand of the beach or lake front in my case. i'm located in the heart of chicago. still all and all i need to know the proper way of cleaning sand. allways tring to save or at least come out on top.

 

[ECarbonel]

Pool sand check ur local pool supply store only like 5 bucks for 50 lbs

 

[sillyme]

also depends what fish you have as like i you'll have to clean out the filter's more often. i have big plec and chiclids and they are always stirring up the sand

 

[FSM]

The gravel in rivers generally isn't epoxy-coated.

 

[smpage]

Get pool filter sand if you can. If you can't then play sand works nice. use the search function and you'll find loads and loads of different ways to rinse sand. All work rather well.

 

[BigTim15]

Yea I agree, get some PFS

 

[capefeartarheel]

Pool filter sand ($5 a bag from Lowes or Home Depot) worked for me as well. I mixed 4 bags of it with 2 bags of black sand from my LFS.

 

[sir charles]

whoa are you serious?

 

[sir charles]

right now i've got fred and his family in the tank. sorry fred is a RD and his wifey is to believed tobe a red devil/ barrred midas hybrid. jack dempsey, severum,2 manguneuse and african cichlid.

 

[sir charles]

but the gravel @ your LFS that resembles this is.