View Full Version : sand advice....
firetank
12-01-2002, 8:34 AM
im upgrading to a bigger tank (36x18x12) and want to use sand instead of gravel for the substrate..
any advice on what type of sand\depth\grain size.. etc would be
much appreciated
:confused:
NJ Devils Fan
12-01-2002, 8:35 AM
Onyx Sand by Seachem, it's great. 80gJoe has it, check out pics of his tank.
firetank
12-01-2002, 11:29 AM
ive read that you can use normal sand from a hardware store,
would this compact too much to also have live plants??
wetmanNY
12-01-2002, 11:34 AM
No it would be fine. But you'd still be lacking the colloidal clay you get in laterite, either unbaked (hypoallergenic kitty litter) or baked (Flourite or Shultz Soil Conditioner).
Don't wash all the good out of the laterite. It grabs phosphates and give root hairs something to grip.
firetank
12-01-2002, 11:37 AM
any sort of %mix or just a healthy amount of cat litter??
also any suggestions for the depth??
cheers
ArkyLady
12-01-2002, 12:39 PM
I recently changed from the somewhat large aquarium gravel you get at Wal-Mart to swimming pool filter sand. My cories are loving it and it's much easier to keep clean. My LFS sells this for $9.99 for a 50lb bag, but it may be cheaper if you went to a pool or hardware store instead. I'm not doing live plants yet, so no idea how it would work with them. I didn't put a very thick layer in my tank, probably about half an inch to an inch. I don't keep my gravel level, the low spots give the fry a place to escape from being eaten when they get brave and swim too far away from their plants.
Note: If you change your substrate in a cycled tank, you will lose a good chunk of your bacteria and most likely have some ammonia spikes until it stabalizes again. I didn't have any real problems, but did have to monitor my ammonia levels and do more frequent partial water changes for a few weeks. I purchased some "Special Blend" from www.drsfostersmith.com which is a bacteria booster type product. I added this after I changed my gravel, but really have no idea if it was helpful or not. It did make me feel better at least :)
firetank
12-01-2002, 1:27 PM
what method are you using to clean it??
its a new tank so im cycling it empty.....
thankx
qieter
12-01-2002, 1:59 PM
what if u have plecos..will that pose a problem if u use sand as substrate? thanx
vic
ArkyLady
12-01-2002, 3:07 PM
I'm just using a syphon gravel cleaner. The problem with the larger gravel was it never really got sucked up into the tube of the gravel cleaner so there would still be a LOT of debris left under the top layer of gravel.
I haven't changed out the substrate in the tank with the pl*co yet, hope he won't mind it.
a friend of mine has a pl*co in a sand substrate tank, and it's fine. you shouldnt just leave a bottom feeder to feed on the dirty substrate anyway, add sinking pellets or algae wafers or something ....
personally, i use playsand, from the local hardware store. it took awhile to wash, but IMO it was worth it. I looked into sand from the lfs, or pool filter sand. The lfs sand was just too expensive for me ($30 CDN for a 5 pound bag - I needed at least 15 pounds). And I couldn't find anywhere that carried pool filter sand in my area. So I went with the more hassle, less money route, of $2.50 for 10 pound bags. It has a nice tan look, and honestly, I'm not sure I would ever go any other route.
Good Luck! :)
latazyo
12-01-2002, 6:52 PM
I use pool filter sand, it is gorgeous, the grains are uniform and it is col0ored VERY nicely, but it takes a while/ a few water changes to settle out though
christopher1260
12-01-2002, 10:51 PM
in my opinion, coarse sandblasting sand is the cheapest ($6 for 100 lbs.), best looking (black), and easiest to take care of. i got mine at a hardware store and love it!
firetank
12-03-2002, 2:24 AM
i presume it'll need cleaning beforehand;
is the best way to run a hose thru it as with gravel, or just to set up the tank and do 50%(???) water changes daily till its clear??
cheers
ArkyLady
12-03-2002, 9:47 AM
I'd definitely recommend cleaning it. The pool filter sand I got was quite dirty, but it was a pain to clean since it's so small. Not sure I can even describe how I managed it hehe
If you can find a strainer that the sand won't fit through, that would be easiest. I'm going to look for one next time I go to the store.
Even after cleaning it best I could without much to work with, my water was cloudy for a few days. I can imagine if I had used it without cleaning it would have been a real mess.
use a pillow case to clean it. :)
O-man21
12-03-2002, 11:32 AM
use normal sand fro Wal-MArt, you'll be fine
I have 2 community tanks with plants and they look great
FishmasteR2002
12-03-2002, 11:45 AM
Pillow case, that's smart. I might do this in a 10 gallon "hospital" tank. I have never put sand in a fish tank before. Might prove interesting...
O-man21
12-03-2002, 11:49 AM
It does look great in a fish tank, but you need to have a plant to ge the full affect of the sand.
christopher1260
12-03-2002, 11:54 AM
i forgot to say that the sandblasting sand was fairly easy to clean. it only took one or two rinses. also, be careful not to make it too deep, maybe 1.5 inches.
O-man21
12-03-2002, 12:34 PM
I also use a pillow case to clean my sand
firetank
12-03-2002, 3:45 PM
go idea(pillow case)
thanx for the input....
here we go.......:D
O-man21
12-03-2002, 3:46 PM
what sand have you decided on using?
FishmasteR2002
12-03-2002, 5:57 PM
Oh I will be definitely putting live plants in the tank. I don't like fake plants they look really dumb. I like it to look as real as can be. Hey let us know how your cnage to sand works out. :)
O-man21
12-03-2002, 5:59 PM
I don't like fake plants ether the only place I have them is in my hospital tank because real plants sometimes can't take the medicin I have to put in
firetank
12-04-2002, 6:26 PM
decided to go with building sand from a national diy store over here....
its a rich orange colour.....
if i can get a digi camera ill post piccys when im done.
thanx all
craig
:D
firetank
12-04-2002, 6:35 PM
ps ooops forgot...
its gonna be planted to the nines.
:cool: :D
I used sand blasting sand in my tank with a layer of latrite undernieth. Plants are doing a ok, actually where the plants are
I have latrite, sand and a layer of gravel. a little bit of everything.
see,
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=1282755&uid=653489&members=1
For a look @ my tank.
firetank
12-04-2002, 9:35 PM
well ive lookeda ll over my local lfs' for laterite\flurite and cant find any of the **** stuff.
in our equiv of home depot is a substance called vemiculite "a totally sterile, unreactive mineral" used for storing water\beneficial substances in house plants soil ..
anyone know if i could substitute this.....