SAND for Geos

[shiver905]

I need some opinions on sand and its impact of Big canister filters for sand shifting fish (geo sveni).

I started to rinse Quickrete play sand from home depo. I'm reading stories about it getting into canister filters and ruining them.

Its a 6 foot tank with an fx6- stocking will be Geo Svenis.

Have any of you ran into this issue. Iv used play sand for years but for non sand shifting fish.

My other options are :
#20 pool filler sand- Not the biggest fan of the white look
Carib sea super naturals:

Sunset Gold

0.25 – 1.0 mm

Fine, soft sand

Crystal River

0.5 – 1.0 mm

Slightly thicker fine sand

Jungle River

0.5 – 1.5 mm

More medium grain

Peace River

~1.0 – 2.0 mm

Coarser, closer to gravel

 

[Gourami Swami]

The finer sand is better in general for earth eaters. I'm using caribsea sunset gold for a SA tank at the moment. No geos in the tank, but no noticable affect on the filter either, and I do vaccuum it/kick it up regularly.
I have used play sand, PFS, and larger grain aquarium sand in the past. I much prefer larger grain sands in terms of maintenance and looks. The sunset gold also took a couple weeks of polishing with fine filter floss and clarifiers to really clear up, much longer than any other sand I have used.

 

[duanes]

I use a combination of PFS and a little smattering of more coarse stuff for Geophagus crassilabris , and another sand sifter from Central America, Dareienheros calobrensis.

both cichlids were caught together in the same sandy, and leaf strewn habitat.
The banks were strewn with river stones, but the deeper channel was sandy and leaf littered


The current was fairly strong.


The most common fish caught with the cichlids were Characins, at a ratio of about 20 tetras per each cichlid netted.

Next most common species were plecos, maybe 5 or 6 armoured cats per each cichlid.