What Sand Substrate should i get

[cichlidsguy]

i was thinking of getting play sand, but i heard its to dirty. only reason i was going to get it was because its cheap and they sell it at home depot.

so now i dont know what sand substrate i should get
Can Anyone help out on piking one,and maybe telling me where i can get it at?for example homedepot or lowes?

thank you

 

[fsubulldogs]

you can use pool filter sand. its relatively clean and cheap. it takes about 20 min to clean and i got it for $7 for a 50lb bag. i got mine at meijer but i am sure any pool supply store would have it.

 

[maseyferguson05]

Pool filter sand, it has the largest particles of sand.

 

[sma]

definetly pool filter sand

 

[Mystix212]

The Home Depot sand you can wash, just takes longer. But I think pool filter sand has some black bits in it.

 

[cichlid savage]

I used pool flitersand when I set up my 100 gal. Its pretty clean. I'm lazy and the tank had no fish so I let it run through the filter with about a 50% waterchange each day for 2 days and it was clean as a whistle. Looks great to a very natural looking substrate. I got a 50lb bag for like 9 bucks at a pool supply store.

 

[donaldastwood]

Pool Filter Sand.. I didnt even know that stuff existed?! How would you clean the sand other than putting it in the tank and putting the tank through several water changes? or is that the only way after initial rinsing?

 

[ShadowBass]

If you get high grade pool filter sand it doesn't even have to be washed. It's in really well sealed bags and there's absolutely no dust at all.

I got stuff like that for 12.99 for a 50lb bag at a pool supply place, it's quartz and the bag mentions that it's higher quality than normal pool filter sand.

The pool filter sand at home depot or lowes for like 5 dollars for a 50 lb bag is ok, but it will have some dust and you may want to rinse it first. Otherwise it will cloud the tank quite a bit 'til your filters pull the dust out.

Best way I've found to rinse it is by half filling a 5g bucket and running water into it until the water runs clear, while stirring it a little bit. Don't stir it really hard or fast or you'll start losing the larger grain pieces.

 

[bukster]

is there a substrate out that's redily available that is slightly larger than sand? i'm only interested because i've heard sand is harder to vacuum than other substrates. if there isn't what is the largest particle sand anyone has seen?

 

[Cross127]

is there a substrate out that's redily available that is slightly larger than sand? i'm only interested because i've heard sand is harder to vacuum than other substrates. if there isn't what is the largest particle sand anyone has seen?

It's not at all harder to vaccum sand but infact easier IMO. You can get Sand Blasting sand and choose your specific grain size to what you want. I do like to spend money though so I will usually buy Ultra Reef Marine Sand for my tanks, but it gets expensive at $1.29 a pound and when you are filling a 125 it gets pretty pricey.