New 55gal setup substrate?

[vlcek81]

Ok i am going to get my 55gal tomorrow (woohoo). I was thinking of useing sand instead of gravel to change it up for once. In anyones experience or knowledge is a sand substrate harder to clean (with gravel vac) or eaiser to take care of? Any info on sand as substrate will help ty

 

[Lupin]

Sand is much easier than gravel. All gravel does is trap the wastes making it more difficult for me to vacuum all the wastes out of the tank. With sand, wastes are lighter than sand. Simply hover the vacuum a few centimeters above the sand at a 45 degree angle and start vacuuming the wastes out.

 

[siebertn]

sand is esyer to clean coz all the stuff that you wan't to clean out stays ontop.imo anyway but i have been using pool filter sand for about 4 years now and that is the reason i use it.

 

[vlcek81]

Thx guys, How much pool filter sand do u think i need to put in for 55g? 5lb bag? (if they come in that size lol)

 

[jus85411]

i love the sand substrate as everyone has said it is easier to clean, but one problem i had, probably because it wasnt too big of a tank, the flow from the HOB filters was making sand particles stirred up a little bit and i never really got that crystal clear look as you would see tiny sand particles floating throughout the tank. otherwise i loved the sand look and the easy cleaning of it

 

[FSM]

Where do you get 5 pounds of pool filter sand? 50 pounds cost about $8...

 

[JakeH]

I used "Tahitian Moon" black sand made by CaribSea. I picked it up at the LFS & paid like 15 bux for a 20lb bag. It looks awesome & its nice & heavy, but it takes awhile to settle at first.