What do you all think of sand in a planted?

[desertgoldhound]

Never used it and never realy planned on using it but thinking about it now.

Would sand (playbox sand) work good in a planted aquarium I am thinking about using it in a smaller 10 gal. I don't know if I will do it or not but thought I would get your oppinons on this.

[Hurley]

You can use sand. The only problem you might run into is that plants with extensive root systems may have trouble developing because the sand is more densely packed then larger substrate. Also, you can run into pockets of anaerobic bacteria if the sand is deep, there is debris caught in it and the sand is not disturbed often either by you cleaning it, a borrowing fish, or MTS's. I have used sand in the past without any problems and I was very happy with it.

[Goatman]

I use all sand to excellent effect. Black Beauty blasting grit to be exact. Totally inert, makes for anaerobic pockets which cause roots to develop hairs, and keeps mulm on top to be easily suctioned out before piling up out of sight causing H2S buildup.

[echoofformless]

The blasting sand is good. As is pool filter sand.

I use and suggest Quikrete medium sand. That has slightly larger grain size and is almost like very fine gravel; hence no compacting and very easy maintenance.

The play sand is far too fine.

[cichlidkeeper91]

I am using sand right now in my 12 gallon nano cube and It works pretty good but I should of got the flourite because I cant seem to grow glossostigma it the sand, but I can grow all the other plants like weeds.

[epicfish]

What lighting do you have for the glosso? It tends to not grow well and grows "leggy" if the light penetration isn't enough.

[cichlidkeeper91]

What lighting do you have for the glosso? It tends to not grow well and grows "leggy" if the light penetration isn't enough.
All of it is just dying. I have 2x24 watt light strips which is 4 wpg and is alot.

[kjf91004]

Be sure to have a good fertilizing regimen (and CO2) to make up for the lack of nutrients in the substrate. You may have problems with heavy root feeders like swords, but should succeed.

Also to think about, you will have less issues with algae and getting the plants started if you plant heavily with fast growing stem plants right away, and then transition to "prettier" plants.

[cichlidkeeper91]

Be sure to have a good fertilizing regimen (and CO2) to make up for the lack of nutrients in the substrate. You may have problems with heavy root feeders like swords, but should succeed.

Also to think about, you will have less issues with algae and getting the plants started if you plant heavily with fast growing stem plants right away, and then transition to "prettier" plants.
I do put ferts in there. I have flourish and excel.

[Goatman]

NPK? If you don't have it, or don't know what it is, find out and use it (them actually). Check out gregwatson.com for your fert needs.

[SHK_ATK]

The blasting sand is good. As is pool filter sand.

I use and suggest Quikrete medium sand. That has slightly larger grain size and is almost like very fine gravel; hence no compacting and very easy maintenance.

The play sand is far too fine.

ive tried looking for pool filter sand and Black Beauty blasting grit at the local home depot... to only get a blank look on some faces with the i didnt know a pool needed sand in the filter.....even at homedepot.com i cant seem to find it very frustrating.....any where else you might recomend having this? i did see quikrete but i really wanted to use black sand... i might just have to go to the lfs and shell out 6 bucks per 5 lbs.....

[PeteCW]

I have had great success with all playsand setups fortified with strategically placed fert tabs and liquid iron ferts.
I momentarily considered a bottom layer of laterite, but then I recalled how larger particulates will gradually make their way to the surface through agitation over time, as physics would dictate, and realized if I were to disturb the substrate to a level consistant with planting a large healthy rooted plant, I would end up causing mayhem, so I decided that would be a very bad idea.
In my experience, playsand is awesome with strategically place Flourish tabs, so ignore all the conventional situation-dependant wisdom you have most likely read, and go for it.