View Full Version : play sand
LMOUTHBASS
12-09-2003, 1:33 PM
i want to put some play sand in my tank in a certain spot - if it's sand that's safe for kids it'll be ok for my fish then ?
thanks
many people use it, and i think it looks great cheap too.
As long as the pieces of sand are not sharp edged (blasting sand) then it should be fine. If you only want it in one area of your tank then I suggest making a little dish or sand box. Otherwise the sand will eventually sift into the gravel and you will loose it. Great thing for catfish, though you will probably have to fill the dish up a few time as they spread it all over.
LMOUTHBASS
12-09-2003, 1:59 PM
i'm going to fill up a micr wavable container and creae a little sand section theyn pplay sand says its for pet boxes, plants and children so it must be fine for fish
it wont screw up the ph n stuff will it
Most playsand is quartz or silica. That won't hurt your pH at all. I think there is a sand called Southdown (?) which is some sort of carbonate based sand (I think?) that people who have African cichlids or saltwater fish like as it will raise the pH.
Yes, Southdown is best reserved for Rift Lake or marine or brackish tanks.
waht catfish use the sand? what do they do in it?
Toro Driver
12-09-2003, 2:51 PM
I don't know about catfish but my botia's made a huge mess of it in my experimental/hospital/feeder fish tank. I was trying it, when I changed the gravel in my 55g I move my botia's to the 10 with the sand. What a mess, they shoveled all into a big pile in the middle of the tank. I had mud in my filters. Ich. :shake:
Catfish are bottom feeders and like to burrow in sand to look for food. Cory catfish love a sandy substrate.