Sand instead of gravel?

J

Jericho

AC Members
Jul 22, 2005
731
0
0
I have read up a little on the sand and it looks like the big thing to look for is silica in the sand. They say that if you have any bottom dwelers it will cut them up. They recomend beach sand or river sand because the sand has been rounded and it will not cut up or wear on the fish. They say that with any sand if you wash it and strain it all the small stuff will come out (the stuff that does not settle easy). No one made mention of the effects of any chemicals in the sand (as some sand is labled known to cause cancer). Some web pages said that if you do not have any fish that dig in the sand the sand can become compact and grow bad bacteria. Any coments on that thought? I am starting to want sand but I want to hear from the people who have it and what you think of it?
TIA
 
I have gravel and clay aquatic plant soil in my planted tank. In a heavily planted tank, how do u stir up the gravel if you use sand?
 
The chemical is silicon dioxide. And its one of the most stable compounds there is. If ya turn it into dust and breath it, it gets lodged it the gas transfer tissues in the lung. It cuts into the tissues and is too heavy to be coughed up. Causes the tissues to go crazy and some of em go cancerous. I like it cause its white and gives nice contrast to the rocks gravel, etc. Hasnt killed the Corys yet. 6 months.
 
None of my bottom-dwelling fish have ever shown ill-effects from living with a silica sand substrate. The corydoras in particular would rummage through the upper layer of the sand constantly and never showed any problems due to abrasion from the sand on their undersides or their wiskers.
 
Hmmmm I never stir up the sand I have in my tanks and absolutely no probs for years. Just grow some plants and get some trumpet snails and they do the job for you.

Sand is the best substrate you could ask for, HUGE area for bacteria colonization, and as to that whole hurting the gills thing, I think its a bunch of BS. Do ya really think I would keep a $250 Discus in a tank with sand if it would hurt them? Its generally much more natural, sure some areas have more of a gravel base but if you do some lookin, even at your local ponds and streams what is the general substrate? Sand/mud. The fish Love it, it looks great, it lasts forever, what more could ya ask for? Only downside is that initially right after set up you will get a cloudy tank, easy to solve though, fill the tank, swirl the sand up and get the water nice and cloudy, then drain it, fill it back up and repeat the process a second time. It will still be a little cloudy, but throw a nice HOB with some filter wool in it and in a day or two the water will be crystal clear.

Get on the sand bag wagon here, stop givin money to Estes and those painted rocks. Sand is much cheaper, I just got another bag, 50lbs for $4 at home depot! Thats what you pay for a 5lb bag of gravel.
 
I have some black sand substrate and it's always been okay for all my fish. I have a plecasimus and some cichlids, and they've never acted ill, even when I've stirred it all up too...
 
NatakuTseng said:
Hmmmm I never stir up the sand I have in my tanks and absolutely no probs for years. Just grow some plants and get some trumpet snails and they do the job for you.

Sand is the best substrate you could ask for, HUGE area for bacteria colonization, and as to that whole hurting the gills thing, I think its a bunch of BS. Do ya really think I would keep a $250 Discus in a tank with sand if it would hurt them? Its generally much more natural, sure some areas have more of a gravel base but if you do some lookin, even at your local ponds and streams what is the general substrate? Sand/mud. The fish Love it, it looks great, it lasts forever, what more could ya ask for? Only downside is that initially right after set up you will get a cloudy tank, easy to solve though, fill the tank, swirl the sand up and get the water nice and cloudy, then drain it, fill it back up and repeat the process a second time. It will still be a little cloudy, but throw a nice HOB with some filter wool in it and in a day or two the water will be crystal clear.

Get on the sand bag wagon here, stop givin money to Estes and those painted rocks. Sand is much cheaper, I just got another bag, 50lbs for $4 at home depot! Thats what you pay for a 5lb bag of gravel.
Click to expand...

You know, I think I am going to change my tank to sand!!
 
I am sold... KAS as for the chemicals when you live in a state that puts warning on everything (I think they are trying to put warning on the air we breath) you start to take them as a grain of salt. I have known that silica is bad for the lungs and most all of the sand warnings are geared towards sand blasting (as that puts the dust in the air and can cause problems like ZKT stated). I was just reading that people are stateting that the sand can leach out chemicals that are bad for your fish. I thought it sounded like B.S. but wanted to get the opinions from the people who actually use sand.
Thanks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom