Pool Filter Sand - Good Choice? And Stay Bare or use sand?

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4D3

4D3

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Jan 21, 2013
984
47
61
United Kingdom
Hi,

I currently have bare bottom, but I am getting board of the look, i was thinking of putting sand back into the tank.

In the past I have used normal Kids Play Sand and have had no issues, but i found this:

http://www.bunnings.com.au/products...t-sand-poseidon-zeoclor-zeolite_P3090117.aspx

and I was wondering if this would be a better choice.

It is made from ZEOLITE which i know has natural ammonia absorbing properties.

Also the big question is should i stay barebottom or use the sand?

I have an Eheim 2080 and a Classic 2260 modded to the 2262 specs...

Thanks in advance
 
Pool filter sand is the best sand IMO..it's granules are bigger then pfs and it's a whiter color, which I prefer...can be washed out very easy when you buy it also


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Pool filter sand is the way to go over play sand. The filter your running with play sand will suck up faster like a hooker polishing off a trailer hitch.
 
vr6fan said:
Pool filter sand is the best sand IMO..it's granules are bigger then pfs and it's a whiter color, which I prefer...can be washed out very easy when you buy it also


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Click to expand...

Conlin2 said:
Pool filter sand is the way to go over play sand. The filter your running with play sand will suck up faster like a hooker polishing off a trailer hitch.
Click to expand...
thanks guys, what about the sand i posted in the link?

It isnt sand, it is zeolite ground up into sand...would that be good way to go?

thanks
 
I would stick with regular PFS personally. It's cheap, inert and completely safe. Who knows what that much zeolite would do to the water chemistry and if you need a substrate to absorb ammonia for you then you might have bigger problems.
 
I have have sand in four of my tanks. IF I could go back in time I would have left them bare or done tile. The sand is really hard on my filters.
 
Rayne said:
I would stick with regular PFS personally. It's cheap, inert and completely safe. Who knows what that much zeolite would do to the water chemistry and if you need a substrate to absorb ammonia for you then you might have bigger problems.
Click to expand...

Yeah I'm still having that strange problem with ammonia! So I thought zeolite sand would help.

The toxic/free ammonia is 0, nitrite and nitrate are 0 but non toxic ammonia is at 7-8ppm.

My tank still has a white hew to it.

I have purchased a 2260 and modded it to the 2262 spec, that should be in this weekend.

I just thought zeolite sand would clean up the remaining non toxic ammonia

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Zeolite is not a good choice for a substate for FW tanks, imo. (For SW and B, it's ill-advised.) Zeolite (an ion exchanger) will adsorb ammonia and nitrogen, but only up to a point where it becomes saturated. Then it stops. The problem is that under certain conditions (like medical doses of salt to an otherwise salt free tank), zeolite will release some of the ammonia and nitrogen, possibly with lethal effects.

Zeolite is something you might want to have in a filter bag for emergencies if you have a sudden ammonia spike. Toss it in the sump or HOB, let it work, then pull it out and dump in the trash. (Or recharge it!)


Here is an interesting discussion, Anyone who disagrees, please correct me with my blessing.

http://www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/297072-ammonia-removerzeolite/
 
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