Substrate/Gravel help, please

[OgreMkV]

OK, I've been reading and I'm still somewhat confused. Here's my plan.

75g, lightly planted with low light plants (java moss, java ferns, perhaps some anubis). Fish will mainly be tetras, danios, and cories.

OK, I know the cories would prefer sand as a base and I'm cool with that. But how do I keep the sand clean. The cories may eat all the food, but what about the fish hooey? Will the filter(s) pick it up since it's not embedded in gravel? Will I still need a siphon?

Next, I read someone used playground sand from Lowe's... that works? Does it need to be rinsed?!?!? How would I do that?

Finally, rocks and driftwood. The mosses and ferns will grow on driftwood, rocks, and (presumably) tank decorations, right? So I'll need to clean them (boiling, rinsing, etc) before hand.

Thanks guys. If my plans come through, this is going to be a nice tank.

Kevin

[Ketso]

Play Sand will work, but I found it to be to fine. The current in my tank just blew it all around. Plants didnt stay put very well in it either. I would recommend pool filter sand if you want a cheap sand that does a "decent" job. It's got a larger grain to it that stays put better. I have heard that some Lowes carry PFS. However, you may have to go to a pool supply company. I picked up more than enough for my 55g tank for only $12. I dont have a gravel vac yet, so I cant really say how well it works with them. I do know that the "fish hooey" stays on top of it. Whereas with gravel, it tends to get down into the substrate.

You will need to wash pretty much any type of sand that you might choose to use. It's pretty simple really. Just fill a bucket about 1/3 to 1/2 and rinse it with water. Lightly stir it and most of the fine particles and dirt will float out. With the play sand, I washed it what I felt was pretty well. It still clouded up my tank for a few days. The PFS I washed about half as much and it cleared up in the tank after a day or so. It seemed to be much cleaner.

As for the rocks and driftwood, you seem to have the basic idea. There are tons of threads here on both. Do a search and enjoy some fine reading.

[echoofformless]

If you are lucky enough to come across Quikrete Medium Sand, that is about the best stuff I have ever come across. It's very uniform in size, with somewhat large grains for sand. Therefore it doesn't compact and plants do very well in it.

On top of that, it's very well rounded so it's cory-safe. But the best thing about it is that it has been screened, rinsed, and kiln sterilized. You can honestly use it without even rinsing it!