What color of sand ?

[qguy]

Going to change the substrate on my Dovii Tank, right now it has gravel and want to avoid poop setting into the bottom. I am going with sand.

What would be an ideal color for the tank? Have not gone to the storws, but I think i can get the gray colored ones as well as the cream colored variety.

Any particular size that is needed ?

 

[jaws7777]

Pool filter sand aould be ideal. Heavy enough not to get sucked up into the filters and really cheap. Just clean it before you put it in the tank

 

[Buphy]

Pool filter sand aould be ideal. Heavy enough not to get sucked up into the filters and really cheap. Just clean it before you put it in the tank

+1 I've heard nothing but good things about pool filter sand.

 

[Blue Bear]

Pool filter sand aould be ideal. Heavy enough not to get sucked up into the filters and really cheap. Just clean it before you put it in the tank

This. I use pool filter sand in all my tanks. $5 for 50 pounds, can't go wrong.

 

[convict360]

Black sand is always recommended. I have it in my tank, it's ok; but can sometimes look too dark.

I'll put up a pic later, sitting at my desk just now so need to be covert lol

 

[qguy]

Done black in the past, poop is so visible and takes a lot of light to make the tank bright enough to see fish. When my tank was bare, i needed one 48 inch florescent light, now i have gray gravel and need three to have the same brightness...

 

[RD.]

natural colored sand

 

[duanes]

I also use natural color, pool filter sand.
Detritus doesn't work its way in, it is heavy enough that it doesn't easily get stirred into intakes, where it can ruin pumps, it is usually chemically inert, and (as stated above) inexpensive, I also pay about $5 for 50 lbs.
Depending on where it is mined, can be very light, or slightly dark, and there are different grades (sizes).
If I need to have a substrate as an alkalinity/pH buffer, I add some aragonite to it (crushed coral).
If I want to grow lush plants, I would add fluorite, or red clay.
The tank below is a 100 gal +, and I have used only 1x 50lb bag.

Because it is often light in color, in order for fish not to wash out, I always add plenty of dark wood, rocks, or plants and usually put a black ground on the rear panel.
Some PFS can be darker, and larger grain, like the one below.

 

[ahud]

I'm a PFS guy as well. Recently, the only kind I can find is by quickrete. I'm not sure I like the stuff, it is a lot finer than what I typically use and it packs really tight. Gas pockets forming under the sand concerns me. I'm on the search for more, but not having much luck.

 

[neutrino]

Not that it can't happen, but the gas pockets thing is somewhat misunderstood (see link), basically not all sulfur smells in your tank are toxic, but the bottom line is if your sand layer isn't too thick and/or you have fish that sift sand or you occasionally siphon or stir the sand there's not much of a threat.

Unless you're an advanced aquarist intentionally trying to establish an ecologically balanced DSB (deep sand bed) for nitrate removal, there's not much reason to have more than 1.5- 2 inches deep sand anyway imo.