Substrate
- Thread starter Os Aqualand
- Start date
Until other Ray keepers chime in.
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/sand-substrate.667705/
I went to Lowe’s today to actually buy some quick Crete play sand and that stuff is absolutely trash ... idk how anyone would consider putting fish with that
I do not use play sand. I use the swimming pool filter sand.
Not sure where you are located but where I’m at they don’t actually carry pool filter sand at Lowe’s or I woulda got that . Bare bottom till I decide to spend more money on better sand
Either one should carry mesh size #20 silica sand, which is the mesh size for pool filter sand. Needs lots of rinsing
I have found play sand is too light to be used in tanks that have fish large enough to stir it up.
When stirred up, the sand can get sucked into filters and into impeller shafts of pumps (filters) and as the impellers turn grind up volutes, housings and the impellers themselves.
Above an impeller worn away by sand I used before I realized the damage fine sand can do.
Pool filter sand is graded to be heavy enough to settle after a back wash, so less chance it will get randomly sucked into filters.
So getting a quality Pool Filter sand is important.
above the space where the impeller works.
I know it hard to see, but there is a figure 8 carved into the housing of this 500 gph pump.
As sand wore away the impeller, it began to wobble, so the sand and wobble carved out the figure 8 rendering the pump unusable.
Of course it didn't happen overnight, but the wear probably shortened the life of the pump by couple years.
I could get decent quality (and cleaner) PFS at places that provide pool supplies, or even shipped.
When stirred up, the sand can get sucked into filters and into impeller shafts of pumps (filters) and as the impellers turn grind up volutes, housings and the impellers themselves.
Above an impeller worn away by sand I used before I realized the damage fine sand can do.
Pool filter sand is graded to be heavy enough to settle after a back wash, so less chance it will get randomly sucked into filters.
So getting a quality Pool Filter sand is important.
above the space where the impeller works.
I know it hard to see, but there is a figure 8 carved into the housing of this 500 gph pump.
As sand wore away the impeller, it began to wobble, so the sand and wobble carved out the figure 8 rendering the pump unusable.
Of course it didn't happen overnight, but the wear probably shortened the life of the pump by couple years.
I could get decent quality (and cleaner) PFS at places that provide pool supplies, or even shipped.
You fellas have the patience of a saint to deal with sand! Every time I've tried it on my smaller tanks (55g and under) with HOB filters, no matter what I put over the filter intakes or how high I kept the intakes, forget it. Trashed impellers all the time.
Big tanks with canisters and sumps, its much less of an issue given the pumps are on the clean side of things so the sand can't (or shouldn't) get at it.
Play sand generally has all kinds of crap in it. It's clean and made safe for kids use, but it requires some cleaning and sifting IMO for tank use.
Big tanks with canisters and sumps, its much less of an issue given the pumps are on the clean side of things so the sand can't (or shouldn't) get at it.
Play sand generally has all kinds of crap in it. It's clean and made safe for kids use, but it requires some cleaning and sifting IMO for tank use.