sand 4 tank with plants

I've used "pool filter sand" which is usually inert and cheap enough, and usually comes out of the bag really clean. Only a quick swish rinse in a bucket and add it to your tank.

I get it at Lowe's or Home Depot.

I agree with pool filter sand. It is already clean because it is meant to be used in a swimming pool filter and it is usually a larger grain that will not get stirred up as easy. Beware that sand is a poor plant substrate though. It can be used on top of the good substrate as decoration but do not use it alone. I made this mistake and must substitute fertilizer balls for each separate plant to keep them going. Use either a plant substrate such as laterite or the other stuff made for plants out there. Or you can do the cheap route like I did after I did my research and use the cheapest storebrand kitty litter you can find. Look for the ingredients and find something that is 100% clay. I got mine from wal-mart. Clay is iron which the plants need in their substrate. The other substrates have other nutrients as well but they're much more expensive than kitty litter. Just make sure your sand is thick enough that you won't be stirring up the kitty-litter beneath. www.plantedtank.net is a good source for info. Kyle