I'm going to redo my 72 gal bowfront and switch to cichlids. I'd like to use sand substrate and seems the general recommendation is for pool filter sand. The local pool supply place has sand but it is a dark brown color. I went to another pool place in a nearby town and the guy there told me that the only pool filter sand he has ever seen has been brown. I'd much rather have white sand but apparently pool filter sand does not come in white. The local Home Depot does not carry pool filter sand. What do I need to get if I want white sand??????
Sand Question
- Thread starter Schmoo
- Start date
I am sure there are some very good reasons to use pool filter sand rather than "play" sand, but I haven't been educated on these - so I will tell you my experience. I set up a 55Gal as a cichlid tank, and used "play" sand from Home Depot. I flushed it very well with a 5 gallon bucket and a hose, put it in the tank and let it settle for 2 days before adding fish or even a filter. At first, the small stuff would get all stirred up into the water during water changes, but that went away after a while.
Another option to flush it would be to put it in the tank, and do multiple water changes, letting the sand settle between them. Don't do this with any fish in the tank or a filter running, it could have adverse effects on either.
Either way, once you get about a month down the road, the small particulate stuff will be gone, and you will have nice white sand (for you cichlids to poop on...)
Another option to flush it would be to put it in the tank, and do multiple water changes, letting the sand settle between them. Don't do this with any fish in the tank or a filter running, it could have adverse effects on either.
Either way, once you get about a month down the road, the small particulate stuff will be gone, and you will have nice white sand (for you cichlids to poop on...)
It takes some patients when you rinse the sand. I had to rinse mine 12-15 times before it was finally clear. Use a pressure nozzle to keep it stirred up and keep the silt dumped off as much as possible.
born2lovefish;799257; said:I have white pool filter sand, so I do not know what he has been smokin....
I have only seen white pool filter sand too, but keep in mind that he lives in Washington state. Sand is a regional thing and it is not cost effective to truck in something when there is a cheaper regional substitute. Sand comes in a variety of colors depending on region from white, yellow, orange, green, black, etc.
All we seem to have around here is white as well, I am on a constant search for brown!
Hey I'll trade you a couple bags of white for a couple of brown.... we're only about 1900 miles apart...
Burt
Hey I'll trade you a couple bags of white for a couple of brown.... we're only about 1900 miles apart...
Burt
Burtess;799495; said:All we seem to have around here is white as well, I am on a constant search for brown!
Hey I'll trade you a couple bags of white for a couple of brown.... we're only about 1900 miles apart...
Burt
Sounds like a drug deal to me.