I'm looking for sand for one of my tanks and had been looking at pool filter sand. There were many bags at the supply store and before I bought I thought I would ask, is there dififerences between Pool Filter Sands? Are there different sizes, grades of sand that I should be looking for over others? If so what brand/size/grade should I be aiming for?
Question about Pool Filter Sand
- Thread starter JTRG05
- Start date
'Pool Filter Sand' by definination/aplication is large grained and consistent in size...
There may be differences in coloration from one brand/bag to the next but this will not make any difference expect in appearnace.
Some brands may rinse their final product better than others. By rinsing I mean washing out the very fine particles... But regardless I highly suggest you rinse the sand yourself before putting it in the tank. It doesn't take long and will wash up quite easily. Not rinsing it allows those fines to be pulled into your filter where they unnecessarily wear your media.
There may be differences in coloration from one brand/bag to the next but this will not make any difference expect in appearnace.
Some brands may rinse their final product better than others. By rinsing I mean washing out the very fine particles... But regardless I highly suggest you rinse the sand yourself before putting it in the tank. It doesn't take long and will wash up quite easily. Not rinsing it allows those fines to be pulled into your filter where they unnecessarily wear your media.
#12 sand whether its beach, pool filter or whatever, is a good size.
#12 is what I switched to and have never looked back! It doesnt compact and is heavy so your filter wont suck it up if your down tube is to low or you have over-rambunctios fish. I had tahitian moon sand (black) and it looked sooo awesome but it was very fine,was stirred up easy and it compacted which I didnt like.
#12 is what I switched to and have never looked back! It doesnt compact and is heavy so your filter wont suck it up if your down tube is to low or you have over-rambunctios fish. I had tahitian moon sand (black) and it looked sooo awesome but it was very fine,was stirred up easy and it compacted which I didnt like.
boldtogether;4098697; said:
The stuff that looks the best IMO is #20 filter sand, how does that size up to the #12, or should I just go with the 12 and not mess with the 20?
I am using marine sand and its #25 greatest sand ever. I had play sand,pool sand and this is by far the best sand of them all. says u dont have to rinse but i do anyways soon as u put it in the tank it will go down right away. I put it in with my filter and fish and no problem because it doesnt stay in the water column great stuff its like 11 dollars a bag but well worth it. 1 bag coverd my 55 gallon alright i will be getting another bag just cause i like it so much
The larger the grain size the better off you are... this is because larger is heavier and therefore stays on the bottom of the tank and out of your filters...
Finer grained sands can be used, but the potential for them to be taken into the filters where they can cause damage is greater...
Finer grained sands can be used, but the potential for them to be taken into the filters where they can cause damage is greater...