View Full Version : "live" sand substrate benefitting plants?
AquariumNoob13
11-14-2007, 9:32 PM
i am so confused! i went into petco today to get some sand substrate for my 75 gal. i never bought any, but here is the reason why: they had a choice between "live sand substrate" which is supossed to benefit the health of plant roots, and then they had coral substrate which is rougher and bigger so it won't get sucked up by a gravel pump (according to the pakage). i want the sand substrate because it is finer and looks nicer from my perspective, but i was just wondering if that whole "benefits plant roots" is true or not, and if i choose to get the substrate, it has water in the bag....do i dump the substrate AND water into the tank, or do i dump out the water and wash the substrate before adding it to my 75 gal?
jtburf
11-14-2007, 9:36 PM
do not get salt water sands, usually they are bad for fresh, do you want it to be light, naturaly, or dark?
AquariumNoob13
11-14-2007, 9:41 PM
do not get salt water sands, usually they are bad for fresh, do you want it to be light, naturaly, or dark?
what do you mean? the bag said "good for fresh and saltwater aquariums......is this not true? and i want it to be dark. i picked out this black sand substrate that was really cool. i am also going to have an all black background....or maybe not. depends on what other backgrounds i can find.
Mgamer20o0
11-14-2007, 9:45 PM
there is no live sand for fw tanks. coral is bad for fw and sw.
AquariumNoob13
11-14-2007, 9:50 PM
oh. so then what is a good brand of substrate that IS good for FW tanks?
jtburf
11-14-2007, 9:52 PM
I use a brand made out of taiwan in a greyish silver bag with orange writting, it looks like littlew chocalate chips, plant like it and it is realatively cheap, like for me $20 for 60#.
I have only been able to get it at my fish store in Houston, they have another location in dallas though, If you can wait I'll get the name in a few days, this stuff is really nice though, and almost 95% of it sinks imediatlly, and won't get picked up by a gravel vac.
AquariumNoob13
11-14-2007, 9:56 PM
I use a brand made out of taiwan in a greyish silver bag with orange writting, it looks like littlew chocalate chips, plant like it and it is realatively cheap, like for me $20 for 60#.
u say that it is like little chocolate chips? then does that mean that it is NOT the same consistency as a fine sand substrate? because i would like to have more of a small/fine substrate then a rough/big one.
Mgamer20o0
11-14-2007, 9:58 PM
go to lowes or home depot and by pool or play sand.
AquariumNoob13
11-14-2007, 9:59 PM
they sell the consistancy i am looking for then? ok. i will check it out. thanks!
jtburf
11-14-2007, 10:01 PM
how hevilly plated will it bee?
If alot then no sand, if a little then sand is ok.
Mgamer20o0
11-14-2007, 10:24 PM
nothing wrong with fully planted sand tanks...... many people have them....
AquariumNoob13
11-14-2007, 10:29 PM
ya, but will the consistancy of the sand from home depot be as fine as sand substrate?
MontyGoose
11-14-2007, 10:34 PM
Yep, the HD stuff is 'sand'
Sammie7
11-14-2007, 10:37 PM
The pool filter sand has small uniformed grains of about a millimeter. It comes in shades of white to tan, depending on where you are. It is cheap, around 5-10 bux for 50lbs. If you want a black sand you can get Tahitian moon sand that goes for 20 bux for 20 lbs around where I live. I have that and it is nice and the same size as the pool filter sand. The difference between the light colored and dark colored sand is mainly the fact that the light colored sand shows poop more than the darker sand.
Any grain that is 1-2mm will be good. You want to stay away from sands like play sand, because they tend to compact easily, get sucked up when cleaning more easily, and are more time consuming to clean when first putting into the tank.
If you use the forums search feature you can find a video on cleaning sand; however, I believe it is with play sand. With my sand I just use the gravel vac like you would gravel, because my sand is heavy enough that it just falls back down if I lift the tube.
Hope that helps. Oh and my tank is heavily planted.
AquariumNoob13
11-14-2007, 10:56 PM
well were i live i found black sand for like $20 for 30lbs. i guess that is a good buy then? it is the consistancy i want too. i will probably get that. and yes, i have a vid of how to properly clean sand. ^_^
anyone know like a good like light and dark sand mix? for a freshwater tank. I'm not liking the eco-complete in the one tank anymore.