What kinda sand?
- Thread starter kamikaziechameleon
- Start date
I have a good image of what it will look like my friend is grabbing the silica sand at lunch and we are assembling the stand tonight assuming the stain has dried, then tomorrow we put the tank on it and build the wall that will be infront of it. I'm getting super excited....!!!!
Tank leaked... just finished re-siliconing the interior of the tank to see if that was the problem, will fill Wednesday... will find out by next weekend if it holds water wed-fri we will start putting in decor and then trial fish. Sorry for the delay. it was a second hand 265.
I'm an advocate for Pool Filter Sand....it's larger particle size so does not stir up as easily. It's also easier to clean...the stuff can be vacuumed right off the top. Additionally, the larger particle size allows for deeper beds without the issue of anerobic pockets due to more water flow through the sand. The sand in my tank is nearly 4" deep in some areas, and has yet to become a problem.
I've used it for years and it hands down my favorite substrate.
I have used the ice cube tray method of putting Osmocote and Earth Worth Castings into the sand and the plants have been doing great in this mixture.
I've used it for years and it hands down my favorite substrate.
I have used the ice cube tray method of putting Osmocote and Earth Worth Castings into the sand and the plants have been doing great in this mixture.
[video=youtube;oZq7WfnfcpE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZq7WfnfcpE[/video]
there is the leaky 265 with the sand in it. first tank in the video.
there is the leaky 265 with the sand in it. first tank in the video.
Pool filter sand and play sand are the same thing. The only difference is the size of the grain, or the mesh size. Both are too fine for my tastes so I buy the same sand, but in a coarser grade from a local rock yard. They have various grades of sand, from very fine to very coarse.
The thing with pool filter sand is, that some places will sell the silica stuff, and other will sell natural sand. Pool filter sand can be anything, it just has to be the right grain size to work in pool filters. Me personally, I don't like the silica sand. I don't like the grayish-white color tone it has. I prefer the browner tones of natural sand.
Silica sand
Natural sand
The thing with pool filter sand is, that some places will sell the silica stuff, and other will sell natural sand. Pool filter sand can be anything, it just has to be the right grain size to work in pool filters. Me personally, I don't like the silica sand. I don't like the grayish-white color tone it has. I prefer the browner tones of natural sand.
Silica sand
Natural sand
Here's a nice chart showing the mesh grades. I have 12# in my 190g. Pool filter sand is usually 30#, and play sand is 40-60#
I would personally keep planted tanks separated from rays, the rays will dislodge plants just like large cichlids. I am currently using different types of playsand and my plants are growing well in the different tanks
