When using sand as a substrate is there any thing that must be different about filtration? should the filtration be more? Been digging around on the net and a few people have stated that you should have 3 times the filter capacity with sand as apposed to rock or gravel. Is this true? Also, how hard is it to clean the play sand for aquarium use? I tried to find the quick crete fien white sand but no one around here carries it. Any other recommendations on a cheap substrate? I just can't see spending 50-60 dollars on sand for my 75 when i know there can be other options much cheaper.
Questions regarding sand in a freshwater?
- Thread starter Achill3s
- Start date
just go with Pool Filter Sand, cost about $12 for a 50lb bag. If anything with sand you tank is easier to clean than rocks or pebbles. Substrate is not necessarily directly related to how strong your filtration should be.
Achill3s;4398744; said:
Depends on how thick you want the layer of sand to be. I did only one for my 90 for a thinner, but covering everything nicely layer. If you want it to be like 3-4" deep, then 2 bags would be good. Just make sure you rinse the hell out of it before throwing it in.
Kevin nailed it.. 
rinse, rinse, rinse then repeat lol.
Can you post up a link describing what you said above: "a few people have stated that you should have 3 times the filter capacity with sand as apposed to rock or gravel."
This is not true in most cases. I assume that comment it redarging the lack of a UGF with sand? I have never considered any more filtration because of substrate. Most all of us design filtration around tank volume and then some, not the substrate we use.
rinse, rinse, rinse then repeat lol. Can you post up a link describing what you said above: "a few people have stated that you should have 3 times the filter capacity with sand as apposed to rock or gravel."
This is not true in most cases. I assume that comment it redarging the lack of a UGF with sand? I have never considered any more filtration because of substrate. Most all of us design filtration around tank volume and then some, not the substrate we use.
JK47;4398787; said:Kevin nailed it..
Can you post up a link describing what you said above: "a few people have stated that you should have 3 times the filter capacity with sand as apposed to rock or gravel."
This is not true in most cases. I assume that comment it redarging the lack of a UGF with sand? I have never considered any more filtration because of substrate. Most all of us design filtration around tank volume and then some, not the substrate we use.
matters more what your bio load is actually. you could have a 100 gallon tank with a ten gallon filter and be good if all you had was a cherry shrimp in there, lolJK47;4398787; said:Kevin nailed it..
Can you post up a link describing what you said above: "a few people have stated that you should have 3 times the filter capacity with sand as apposed to rock or gravel."
This is not true in most cases. I assume that comment it redarging the lack of a UGF with sand? I have never considered any more filtration because of substrate. Most all of us design filtration around tank volume and then some, not the substrate we use.
this is one of the links but I can't find the other
http://freshaquarium.about.com/b/2006/06/22/sand-in-freshwater.htm
Multiple ppl stating that about the filtration needing to be bigger on there. The other was a freshwater aquarium forum, but again I can't seem to find it.
Achill3s;4398723; said:
I agree with Kevin . Sand has no bearing on filtration and like he said rinse the hell out of it.
I use sand on a few tanks and like it alot but when I ised white builders sand . I got tiny brown spots on the sand (silicate spots I call them) .
Home depot has two types sand the inert White builders sand and pool sand..
Having used both neither affected the ph,etc only the silicate white spots for month or two with white builders sand but the pool sand did not give me that problem.
I do prefer the pure white look of builders sand .
They go away if you stir the sand or siphon it but come back in few days . Either way after 2 months that stopped but pic with shrimp shows what I mean.
However after it clears up sand looks very nice and you only need a thin layer again pool sand did not give me those silicate spots .
Achill3s;4398818; said:
I heard same thing long time ago but can tell from experience sand has no bearing on filtration .
I use thin layer and biggest tank I use it on is 55 gallons darter tank (delicate darters) but no problems with sand ever .
