I have always kept gravel in my freshwater tanks. I have found that sand is much easier when keeping saltwater. Does anyone out there use sand in their freshwater (catfish, cichlid) tanks?
Bill
Bill
sand vs gravel
- Thread starter Bill1171
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My tank is a 150 with huge fish (2 Oscars, a snovlenose cat, clown knife, silver dollars, etc) How will these fish be in a tank with sand? I need to vaccum the tank too often with these messy fish will sand make it easier to maintain the tank?
Bill
Bill
it'll be harder to clean with sand because you have to glide your vac over the surface gently so as not to disturb a sand cloud. what kind of filtration do you have going on? i believe your tank is overstocked. with 2 oscars and some silver dollars would be OK, but both a shovelnose (what i assume it is) and a clown knife get huge.
If you put a powerhead at the bottom it will keep the crap off of the sand. Thats how I keep the sand clean for my ray.
I'm sure you're aware you'll need a bigger tank, but coarse sand will be good in there...
Again, I'll suggest pool filter sand.
I'm sure you're aware you'll need a bigger tank, but coarse sand will be good in there...
Again, I'll suggest pool filter sand.
I use common playground sand in my 30 and my 125. It's soft on the fish belly, they can dig in it, plants root well in it, and snails turn it up pretty well. Wash it heavily to get the smaller, lighter particles out. Anything that does'nt settle in 10 seconds gets thrown out.
Mostly it's not too hard to keep clean. Water current helps to collect it, and as cheap as playground sand is, who cares if you suck some out in the water change. I do finger sift it to keep the bacteria low, and the bubbles out. I'm actually considering adding some gravel to the mix.
Mostly it's not too hard to keep clean. Water current helps to collect it, and as cheap as playground sand is, who cares if you suck some out in the water change. I do finger sift it to keep the bacteria low, and the bubbles out. I'm actually considering adding some gravel to the mix.
i assume pool filter sand can be found at major hardware stores such as home depot. what size bags are they sold in and is there a particular brand or name i should be looking for?
also, i heard silica sand is a good choice, as it doesn't rinse as dirty as regular pool sand.
also, i heard silica sand is a good choice, as it doesn't rinse as dirty as regular pool sand.
Any brand will do, and you can find it at almost any hardware or pool store.
Most of it contains silica, as does most sand in general. I have used 3 different brands and never rinsed any of it. It never did make my tanks cloudy. It comes in 50lb bags and is about 6 bucks a bag.
Most of it contains silica, as does most sand in general. I have used 3 different brands and never rinsed any of it. It never did make my tanks cloudy. It comes in 50lb bags and is about 6 bucks a bag.