Sand, Gravel, and Incompetent Specialists?

[TexasJoel]

Okay, so, I will be getting my 300 gallon aquarium very soon now. I have the Fluval FX5 filter canister, and four 250W heaters ready for it. I started thinking about getting sand (I was thinking about black sand with one or two bags of blue sand to have a blue sparkling affect) because I am interested in housing a freshwater stingray. However, one of the 'specialists' at the local pet store strongly advised against sand. He said that when he did sand it was a huge mistake because it continuously stalled his canister filter. He also said that his stingray's slime coat was always covered in sand and very nasty looking. He suggested to either do nothing on the floor or do gravel and it would be fine. Now, I have always read that rays need sand because it is soft on their tender bodies and they need it to hide in. Is there any truth to what he was saying, or am I right to say he's wrong?

Also, if I do get sand, I have found that sand is much cheaper online. Here is the website I found: http://www.bigalsonline.com/productD...LAID=511401101
Does anyone know about this?

 

[CharlieTuna]

I can't speak for using sand with ray's as I'm not familiar with keeping them. But, I have been running multiple tanks with sand for 2+ years without any filter problems. Keep the intakes a couple inches from the sand and you should be fine.

I like pool filter sand, it is cheap, uniform grain size and clean, though I would still give it a rinse before use.

 

[CLDarnell]

Same here...never kept rays (but I would love to someday), but I have sand in several of my tanks. I use both canisters and HOBs. Never had any issues...including sand in the fish slime coat (that statement seemed really odd TBH).

If you're really concerned, you can add a sock or sponge over your intakes, but I've never had to do that either.

Good luck!

 

[prober]

Sounds like your LFS guy did not turn his filters off when changing water or had some other situation where the sand was blown up into the intake.

In a majority of cases sand is not a problem but you don't want the intake too close to the bottom or to create "sprays" of sand that can get sucked into the filter.

I love the fact that the debris sits on top of the sand so it can be easily removed by swirling the vac over the area which gently lifts it without disturbing the sand. Much easier than plunging a vac through every inch of gravel. And all the bottom dwellers love it.