Help....Pool Filter Sand..

[BitterCowgal]

First, let me just let ya'll know that I'm new to using sand, so pardon my silly questions. I am wanting to finish switching the rest of my tanks over to sand however it'd be $60 to $80 each tank if I tried using the sand from the lfs.

I purchased some Pool Filter Sand last night from a local pool store. Once I got it home however, I noticed that it's quite a coarse grain. I'm not familiar with this type of sand. Is this normal? I got Pool Filter Sand as thats what everyone seems to recommend.

My husband and I have the following fish in our fishroom and all but 3 of the tanks would be being switched over to this sand.

We have:
Fancy Goldfish, Clown Knifefish, a Tiger Shovelnose Catfish, Royal Plecos, Rubber Plecos, a Gold Severum, Green Severums, a Channel Catfish, an Electric Catfish, Apple Snails, Angelfish, Cory Cats, and a Dragon Goby.

Is Pool Filter Sand safe for all of the above fish? Several do like to dig and I don't want the larger grain to cause them damage. The brand of Pool Filter Sand I have is called.. Hercules.

Insight appreciated.

 

[rallysman]

If you can, magnify it to see if there is any sharp edges. If it's bad, it might scratch your catfish. However, I have pool fitler sand (that is fairly coarse) with a Tigrinus and a stingray and they've been fine in it for a long time.

 

[justin]

Just use play sand

 

[rallysman]

Just use play sand

BOOOO!!!!!!

I like the look of pool filter sand much better. I thought the play sand that I had was too fine. It looked like mud.

 

[BitterCowgal]

Unfortunantly, I don't have a way to magnify it. I don't have a way to take a picture either as I lost my battery charger for my digital camera...oops.

Playsand is not for me. It's far too dirty and I simply don't have the ambition to sit for hours on end trying to clean it. I'm not terribly fond of the way it looks when wet either. Heh...not to mention I already have the pool filter sand. If this proves to be deemed unsafe for my fish then I guess I'll just give it to someone with a pool.

 

[ewurm]

Just use play sand

Yeah, or shards of glass! LOL

 

[gomezladdams]

I like the look of the coarse grain sand.I have it in a few of my tanks havent noticed any problems on the cories or loaches

 

[Dr Joe]

Just use play sand

Or muddy water..OH..Same thing.

 

[HarleyK]

Yeah, or shards of glass! LOL

Or muddy water..OH..Same thing.

Don't listen to them

Playsand rocks My 220 gal is crystel clear

 

[MilitantPotato]

Pool filter sand is great. It might compact on ya, but as with all sand, if you mix it up every month or so ittle be fine. I've had it in my 75 with 80% bottom feeders for four months without a single problem or sewage smell.