Debating Sand

[The Masked Shadow]

I have standard StingRay lighting and a few hardy plants like Anubis’s and Java fern. Works totally fine.

 

[fishorama]

Yep, Shadow, those are among the easiest of plants, good choices. I'm not sure of your lighting but those plants don't need anything fancy?

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I have used Tropica ferts. for over 2 decades. Today they are dirt simple. They now offer two varieties.

Premium Nutrition has all the required micro nutrients and is recommended for all plant aquariums. Specialised Nutrition further has macro nutrients and is suitable for aquariums with many plants. Both are liquid fertilisers that are dispensed directly into the water on a regular basis.

I use them slightly differently because there is more than just the plants involved. The fish make waste- ammonia and poop content. This makes nitrogen available. So, in tanks which are heavily stocked, I do not tend to add macronutrients and will use the Premium. I may do a mix and use a bit of the Specialized. In smaller tanks which have lots of plants and only a few smaller inhabitants I use 100% the Specialized.

When I started with Tropica they made a product called MasterGrow. I used to buy it in the 5 liter size from BigAls who has closed his USA operation

 

[Toms45hd]

Question and Poll!

Debating switching from gravel to sand. I have a 55 gal corner aquarium.
1. How do I know how much sand I will need? Anyone have a calculator?
2. I don’t have live plants but wouldn’t mind some easy ones that don’t require CO2. Is a sand base good or do I need something under?
3. I hear about pockets of gas pockets in sand is that a real thing?
4. Finally, black or natural sand for this setup? Plants have been moved but still similar.

View attachment 230884

I’ve used pool filter sand for years never had an issue I use eheim canister filters with water pump on top of canister, sand will wreck a pump. I have atleast 3inchs of sand through out tank.i never clean the sand don’t want to dusters arobic bacteria .if your current is strong enough debri will be pushed to where you want it to be in filter.

 

[Toms45hd]

If you keep your filter intake strainer 3-4 inches above the substrate it's usually not a problem unless you have fish that stir up the substrate or spit it directly into the strainer (cichlids).

I use non-typical sand like substrate in all my tanks and while I find it in my canister filters, most of it is trapped in the filter media and doesn't reach the impeller due to the filter pump mounted on top of the canister body. However, when I was running an FX5, the motor is located at the bottom of the canister body so I needed to raise the intake up higher to reduce the amount of substrate ingested.

My Aquaclear filters have had slight damage to the impeller shafts due to sand ingestion so I keep the intake strainer higher in those tanks.

 

[Toms45hd]

Eheim canisters have pump on top of filter can bodyeheim2262 classic.

 

[coldbluts]

I use pool filter sand & have in several tanks. It doesn't compact like play sand can but I dislike the light tan or white color.