Tearing tank down for cleaning, will this substate work?

[Nubster]

I want to tear my bichir tank down and give it a good cleaning as I have neglected it some. I also want to get it outside to paint the back. I was thinking about changing the substrate from gravel to sand. I have some gray sand left over from my SW tank and if I can find another bag of it I would like to use it in my bichir tank. I just want to make sure that the type of sand that it is will be ok for FW use. Also, will it be ok to use with FW plants? I think the granular size is large enough that it won't compact too much around the roots but I can't be sure. I will include a link so you can see the sand that I am talking about. Its the gray coast. Thanks.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=8119

 

[Onion01]

sand is never best with plants. Unless you have potted plants. What i do is leave a little pool of gravel in the sand, and plant my plants there.

 

[varanio]

sand is never best with plants. Unless you have potted plants. What i do is leave a little pool of gravel in the sand, and plant my plants there.

Actually some sands contain a good amount of nutrients to help plants thrive.

 

[Rbacchiega]

I personally go with a mix of sand like substrate and smaller gravel. Seachem makes them both. They're black...onyx sand I think is the name, but I can't be entirely sure. It's similar to laterite in that you can use it either as a fertilizer mix or use it as the sole substrate. My plants thrive in it, even the harder to grow ones are shooting off in every direction.

 

[pwmin]

i used grey coast in my 125 for quite a while and had no problems with it, although it's probably not the best for growing plants

 

[Onion01]

Actually some sands contain a good amount of nutrients to help plants thrive.

but nothing gravel won't do better with a little fertilizer. I planted my amazon sword in the sand, a few days later it was almost dead because of how the sand packed around the roots

 

[varanio]

but nothing gravel won't do better with a little fertilizer. I planted my amazon sword in the sand, a few days later it was almost dead because of how the sand packed around the roots

Again I stated some sand, as with terrestrial plants you need to add fertilizer for a jump start you wont grow roses as successfully in a pot as you would in a pot with miracle grow in it. lol quit arguing with me !!! Ill kick your arse in may! jk

 

[Nubster]

the sand packed around the roots

Thats my main concern. The grey coast stuff is actually pretty course but not sure if it is course enough to prevent packing around the roots.

 

[Sundew]

I have switched out several tanks from gravel to sand, or from quartz gravel to laterite gravel. It depends on what you are trying to do. Most plants do ok in sand but there is not much in way of nutrution for plant growth. In one tank I have Amazon Swords and Jungle Val in sand, and in another various bunch plants.

There is something else to consider with sand, it is MUCH easier to keep clean than gravel. It does not hold dirt. I switched my 125 polypterus tank from gravel to sand because the fish were messy eaters and the gravel had to be continually vacuumed. Now the external filter picks up nearly all the dirt. When I set up the tank it was rocks and wood only, but later I added one type of bunch plant.

For a real planted tank, I feel laterite is much better for plant growth but it will hold more dirt and need more regular cleaning.

 

[Nubster]

My plans would be mostly Java Fern and maybe a sword type plant. I used to keep Hornwort floating in my old tank too and the bichirs seemed to like that as well. I think I am going to do ahead and switch out to sand soon and I will figure the plant issue out later.