Help choosing sand for the tank

[Ruturaj]

I decided to try sand in new aquarium instead of pebbles or bare bottom. I am not sure, what sand to buy out of these 4

None alters the pH, the sand would go in flowerhorns tank and blood parrots tank (2 different tanks).

I like sunset gold but not sure it would match my tanks background. Or should I just go for sand from Home Depot (if yes, any pictures on how it looks)? Any other factor I should be considering?

Tanks are 40b and 75 gallon tanks. Thank you advance guys. Stay safe.

Crystal River
Typical Size: 0.5 - 1.0mm
Average Density: 95 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 05840, 5 lb; 00840, 20 lb; 00870, 50 lb



Moonlight Sand
Typical Size: 0.25 - 0.75mm
Average Density: 95 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 05820, 5 lb; 00820, 20 lb; 00850, 50 lb


Sunset Gold
Typical Size: 0.25 - 1.0mm
Average Density: 94 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 05839, 5 lb; 00839, 20 lb; 00869, 50 lb



Torpedo Beach
Typical Size: 0.5 - 2.0mm
Average Density: 94 pounds per cubic foot
Item: 05823, 5 lb; 00823, 20 lb; 00853, 50 lb



This the the background I have

 

[Jexnell]

I would not use the Moonlight, its really light and hangs in the water colum getting drawn into the filters. Learned this the hard way.
I would go with Torpedo.
I have not used any hardware store bought sand but have heard good response from its use.

 

[Kenneth iacuessa]

Pebble gravel is also a lot easier to clean when sifting through it with the tube when cleaning

 

[Ash]

I would personally recommend looking into color quartz as a sand. I ve been using it for years. It’s easy to clean and doesn’t get into your filtration and if it gets kicked up at all it sinks right back down, no floating sand. Lots of colors to pick from too. Honestly best investment for substrate for me so far.

sand from the hardware store, play and filter sand imo are both very messy sand and takes a significant amount of cleaning. I also feel it tends to float more when kicked up.

As for the Carib-sea sand what I have used was decent. Some types tend to float more then others. I personally would pick it over hardware store sand. I think the torpedo beach would be your best bet.

 

[jeaninel]

I have play sand in all of my tanks and personally I've never had any problems with it being too light and floating around. It looks good and it's cheap. It does take a lot of rinsing before putting it into the tank but once rinsed it's fine. Here's some pics of it from my 135, 150 and 55 gallon tanks.

 

[Ruturaj]

I would personally recommend looking into color quartz as a sand. I ve been using it for years. It’s easy to clean and doesn’t get into your filtration and if it gets kicked up at all it sinks right back down, no floating sand. Lots of colors to pick from too. Honestly best investment for substrate for me so far.

sand from the hardware store, play and filter sand imo are both very messy sand and takes a significant amount of cleaning. I also feel it tends to float more when kicked up.

As for the Carib-sea sand what I have used was decent. Some types tend to float more then others. I personally would pick it over hardware store sand. I think the torpedo beach would be your best bet.

Could you point me to any particular, when I looked up "color quartz" I got results for tiles and when I tried searching for for "quartz sand" I got very few expensive results.

 

[Ruturaj]

I would not use the Moonlight, its really light and hangs in the water colum getting drawn into the filters. Learned this the hard way.
I would go with Torpedo.
I have not used any hardware store bought sand but have heard good response from its use.

Just out of curiosity, why did you and Ash suggest Torpedo but not Crystal River? Color or grain size (I assume those are the only differences)?

 

[Jexnell]

Just out of curiosity, why did you and Ash suggest Torpedo but not Crystal River? Color or grain size (I assume those are the only differences)?

I picked on grain size. Its listed as .5mm to 2mm.

 

[Adamson]

The best substrate I have ever had is the $4/bag Argonite.

https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/caribsea-aragonite-aquarium-sand-10-lbs-2153529?cm_mmc=PSH-_-GGL-_-CAL-_-PME-_-PET-_-AQU-_-0-_-PTC_P_SUP_LIA-GG_FY19_SBU05_Companion_Animal_BOPIS-_-Local_Inventory_Ads-_-0&kpid=go_6471950367_76332473423_380230977733_pla-324731645754_m&utm_config=tad0iunwp&utm_campaign=PTC_P_SUP_LIA-GG_FY19_SBU05_Companion_Animal_BOPIS&utm_source=google&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI38fsrN7q6AIVXPzjBx170A3PEAQYAyABEgKKP_D_BwE

It looks like it is $5/bag now, but well worth it.

 

[fishguy1978]

CEMEX has several sands that I have used. Lapis Lustre in my 55g planted and Ozark brown in my 29g planted.
I used 100lb commercial grade silica sand with the 220g and 100g. It is not as fine as the play sand.
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/my-silver-dollar-sps.728530/