Pool Filter Sand

Matt101905

Matt101905

Love Guru
Feb 11, 2009
280
0
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Arkansas
So I was thinking instead of buying some expensive sand for my 55gal and 20gal and I thought about pool filter sand. Well with a quick search I found a article about it and basically it says that pool filter sand is a good alternative for aquarium sand. So I pretty conviced to go get some so I can move my aquariums upstairs. Anyways comments?

http://www.aquariumlife.net/projects/diy-decoration/9.asp
 
not necessarily. i think 3M makes a type in different grades (i think you want S grade) that people use with all different types of tanks. as it's meant for filtering pools so it won't alter you're water chemistry, where as there's a chance that leveling sand can have calcium in it witch can raise water hardness.
 
I used pool filter sand before. The kind I used were not sharp at all and they were around 2mm in grain size so they are not that fine either. Its much heavier than the play sand and during gravel vac, pieces never got sucked up.

But next time, I want to try 3M's ColorQuartz, the black version grade S as what Ozy mentioned above. It should bring out the color of fishes better with this black substrate.
 
I am using filter sand myself, I can't remember the grain, but its pretty small, I'd say the size of a pencil tip! I'll have to check later, but I've been using it for a month now in my tank with a few cory's and tiger barbs with no problem! Looks great and is cheap!


Mike
 
I wish I could find the Colorquartz.

The leveling sand from home depot hasn't changed my pH at all. I rinsed it thoroughly though before using.

What brand of pool sand are you using? I don't remember what brand I had tried, but it could have been the brand and not pool sand in general that was the problem for me.
 
I don't remember the brand unfortunately. I went to the pool supply store and bought the best (i.e. cheapest :D) bag. I think I only spent $10CA or so to fill up 75g tank. It also had a nice dark color to it - not black but dark enough to show nice colors to the fishes. If I didn't find ColorQuartz, I would have gone this way again for non African tanks.
 
Alright, cool thanks guys! Well after my test this morning I'm going by a pool place to see what they got. I want the whitest looking sand possible, because my background in both tanks are painted black. Thanks!

--Matt
 
Well I just got home from taking my test. I went to a pool and spa store and they said they wasn't going to get any shipment of pool filter sand until spring, and that it was $11.?? for a 50lb bag. They told me to go to a Equipment rental store so I did. I got pool filter sand but they sale it as sandblasting sand. Its .5mm. Is that good? If so I'm glad I bought from them because it was $14.50 after tax for a 100lb bag. Needless to say I can't pick it up on my own haha. It came in a big concrete type bag. And they guy said the color is white, just like I wanted. So I'm happy and hopefully this will be a great alternative. Thanks for the advice everyone!

--Matt
 
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