Sand

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

I have play sand in my 220 gal, no problem. My filter is fine, and the substrate is cleaned by my trumpet snails. I have to add that I do not have big, digging fish in my tank.

Play sand has the benefit that it still contains some clay, which is perfect if you want to keep plants.

Pool filter sand is nicely washed and best if you keep digging fish like large catfish or cichlids. It will cloud less. But it also has zero nutrients for plants.

It all depends on what fish and plants you want.

HarleyK


(rallysman, please shoot me: For the first time, I mentioned benefits of your PFS

 

[Miles]

man i just started a aquarium sand subsrate, it very messy, fish swim past, clouds of
sand formed,the tank seem to be cloudy all the time, do anyone have pics of pool filter sand?

It will take some time for your sand substrate to 'become heavy' with algaes and other slime coating on each individual granual. After your tank has stabilized, each particle of sand will be heavier and won't blow around as easily.

You can buy pool filter sand, at a pool store!

 

[Miles]

Howdy,


Play sand has the benefit that it still contains some clay, which is perfect if you want to keep plants.

Howdy,

Whenever I have used PlaySand, I always get the 100% Silica in the white.. I have seen the other types, which look like they have a bunch of contaminants and 'dirt'.. Is this the type of playsand you are referring to that has clay in it? Its usually a dark grey or brown, and looks like it would NOT be suitable for aquariums.. The clay properties are pretty intereesting, and was curious how you apply that type of 'dirty' play sand to the aquarium.. Did you add a layer of gravel above the playsand and then slowly fill with water to not create clowding? Just curious!..

 

[SoCalD]

I used crushed coral from my LFS. I rinsed it really well, about a gallon of water per cup of coral. I do find some sand in the filter when i clean it but its been decreasing lately. Luckily I have a 45g tank and i only had to rinse 40lbs. I'm not looking forward to when I set up my next tank.

Q, with the pool filter sand. Does it need to be rinsed the same or can it just be placed into a tank, before any fish are added and its cycling?

 

[HarleyK]

I have seen the other types, which look like they have a bunch of contaminants and 'dirt'.. Is this the type of playsand you are referring to that has clay in it? Its usually a dark grey or brown, and looks like it would NOT be suitable for aquariums..

Howdy Miles,

Yeah, mine looks like I stole it froma kid's sand box It came right off the shelve at The Home Depot ("play sand, screened"). I didn't wash it, either. Here's how I did it:

- fill tank with 5'' water
- pour 1/3 play sand into the tank
---> you will get a muddy mess
on top of that, I added some laterite (110 oz/220 gal) and mix it with the sand. If you have just regular plants, just play sand will be fine. If you want a heavily planted tank, I suggest the use of some added plant substrate (like laterite). However, since play sand already contains nutrients, I use much less laterite than recommended by the manufacturer. Makes things cheaper, too

- add the other 2/3 of your play sand on top, do not mix! Now the water is really muddy!
- empty the water out of the tank and refill 5'' fresh water.
- repeat until the water is clear, then fill the tank all the way.

It might still be a bit cloudy, but that'll settle within a day or two.

I have to emphasize that my "biggest" diggers are Corydoras. Thus, I am not really afraid of the sand getting stirred up....

HarleyK

 

[TOM A.]

Has anyone use white play sand sold at home depo for substrate.The bag says not for aquarium use.It better be safe if my kids are playing with it.

 

[water_baby83]

LOL hmmmmm "Not for Aquarium use" might be your first hint at answering this question. LOL But seriously, most of the reason why some sands are not suitable for aquariums is because of particular stone fragments used in the sand which can leech harmful chemicals/elements into the water, and also because a lot of the times, the sand is bleached, and goes through a variety of chem. washes. I wouldn't use it if I were you, just MO.

--Em

p.s - your kids will be fine w/ it

 

[USMCtanker]

i loved white sand at first, but now i go black or other colors. the reason for that is bc with white sand it whitens most of your fish but with darker sand it seem that it brings out more color in the fish. IMO that is

 

[TOM A.]

what kind of black sand is good

 

[USMCtanker]

im sure someone on here can help u find some. i got mine off the internet on a fish site. i cant rember the name. ill look for u. i just looked up black aquarium sand and found some. the cost was a little high bc of shipping, i live in the middle of no where so i haft to ship, u might want to ask u local fish shop