Cheap Substrate

[oscaremmy]

I have just used pool filter sand (50 pound bags from DIY/Pool places)...it's quartz, so no dissolving and is heavy and clears quickly when installed. I mixed mine with wet peat and liquid ferts and put a cleaner layer on top. This tank was only set up yesterday.

 

[kooter]

I used pool filter sand and to cover a 120G. it costs approx. $30 CDN.
I haven't tried play sand or any other "plant" soils but I love pool filter sand.
It's heavy, cheap and already clean.

 

[oscaremmy]

I used pool filter sand and to cover a 120G. it costs approx. $30 CDN.
I haven't tried play sand or any other "plant" soils but I love pool filter sand.
It's heavy, cheap and already clean.

Yep. This stuff is for putting straight into pool filters, so is ready washed. I didn't wash mine. The 50 pound bag of sand would easily create 3 ten- gallon tank beds to a decent depth and only cost $18 US - you can probably get it even cheaper if you shop around. So it's good value for larger tanks, where the cost of gravel can escalate. I also chose this because I think corydoras will do well with it, not damaging their barbels like they might with heavier, rough gravel. Being very light-colored, it will reflect more light upward compared with a dark substrate, which could (theoretically) help growth. Plant colors stand out pretty well against it. Finally, because it's fine but heavy, vacuuming waste should be easy, as dirt will not sink between the spaces between grains and not much will be removed by the vacuuming process.

 

[midiamin]

Yes, pool filter sand is a larger grain then play sand and delivered much cleaner.

 

[Mgamer20o0]

i have had cheap pea gravel in my tanks and done a great job.

 

[Juicybear]

I really like this substrate, i use it and then put a thin layer of natural gravel over the top. http://www.aquariumplants.com/product_p/ss-1.htm

 

[rohape]

I have topsoil with plain gravel from the LFS on top. The soil was about $2 for 1 40lb bag. Yep, I'm one of those NPT people.

 

[Sploke]

I just got some soilmaster select - four 50lb bags for 40 bucks. I only used one in my 150.

 

[pcnicholson]

Soil master comes in charcoal and does an excellent job growing plants. It is a little light though but workable.